Gorgonians Are Foundation Species on Sponge-Dominated Mesophotic Coral Reefs in the Caribbean [PDF]
, 2021 Foundation species (FS) regulate ecological processes within communities often facilitating biodiversity and habitat complexity. Typically FS are dominant structure-forming taxa; but less dominant taxa having disproportionate ecological impacts to the ...
Lesser, Michael P., Slattery, Marc
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A comprehensive investigation of mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago. [PDF]
PeerJ, 2016 Although the existence of coral-reef habitats at depths to 165 m in tropical regions has been known for decades, the richness, diversity, and ecological importance of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) has only recently become widely acknowledged. During
Pyle RL +15 more
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Reef Fish Community Biomass and Trophic Structure Changes across Shallow to Upper-Mesophotic Reefs in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Caribbean. [PDF]
PLoS One, 2016 Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; reefs 30-150m depth) are of increased research interest because of their potential role as depth refuges from many shallow reef threats.
Andradi-Brown DA +4 more
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Benthic communities of the lower mesophotic zone on One Tree shelf edge, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia [PDF]
, 2023 Context: Increasing interest in mesophotic coral ecosystems has shown that reefs in deep water show considerable geomorphic and ecological variability among geographic regions.
Beaman, Robin J. +5 more
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Diversity and Distributions, Volume 29, Issue 12, Page 1578-1593, December 2023., 2023 Abstract Aim Research on mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) has increased exponentially in recent decades, and the significance of this ecosystem has been recognised both in terms of biodiversity and distribution. However, this research has mostly focussed on corals and is globally sporadic, with the Indian Ocean remaining largely unexplored and ...
Clara Diaz +8 more
wiley +1 more source
Reproductive effort of Montastraea cavernosa across depth in the context of both climate change refugia and emergent disease [PDF]
, 2020 As coral populations on shallow reefs decline globally, mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCE) have been suggested as potential coral refugia in the face of climate changes, leading to the development of a comprehensive deep reef refugia hypothesis.
Bloomberg, Jeanne
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Ecosphere, Volume 13, Issue 8, August 2022., 2022 Abstract The ecological distribution of coral species from shallow to mesophotic reefs is dependent on light, which varies drastically among local environments. Current definitions of mesophotic coral ecosystems primarily rely on a 30‐m recreational SCUBA boundary to define the upper limits of the community; however, this boundary does not consider ...
Gaby E. Carpenter +4 more
wiley +1 more source
Seasonal mesophotic coral bleaching of Stylophora pistillata in the Northern Red Sea. [PDF]
PLoS One, 2014 Coral bleaching occurs when environmental stress induces breakdown of the coral-algae symbiosis and the host initiates algae expulsion. Two types of coral bleaching had been thoroughly discussed in the scientific literature; the first is primarily ...
Nir O +4 more
europepmc +4 more sources
Geomorphological drivers of deeper reef habitats around Seychelles [PDF]
, 2022 Mesophotic (30–150 m) and rariphotic (150–300 m) deeper reef habitats are important from an ecological and conservation perspective, yet remain understudied.
Fassbender, N. +5 more
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Hidden in the deep: Distinct benthic trajectories call for monitoring of mesophotic reefs
Conservation Letters, Volume 15, Issue 2, March/April 2022., 2022 Abstract Coral reef conservation management depends on long‐term monitoring efforts for a sound understanding of ecosystem structuring, functioning, and dynamics. However, ongoing monitoring programs are almost exclusively focused on shallow depths, and it remains unclear to what extent those represent the whole ecosystem.
Alejandra Hernandez‐Agreda +4 more
wiley +1 more source