Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jeanne Bloomberg, Daniel M. Holstein
Summary: As shallow coral populations decline globally, mesophotic coral ecosystems are proposed as potential refugia for coral species. The study assesses the refuge potential of mesophotic reefs in the US Virgin Islands for Montastraea cavernosa, with deeper coral experiencing slightly lower reproductive potential. Changes in coral cover and sex ratios primarily drive variations in oocyte production over depth, with mesophotic reefs playing a key role in providing oocytes despite lower proportion of females. The persistence of mesophotic reefs as reproductive refuges is questioned due to disease perturbations affecting deeper reefs.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joshua M. Copus, Cameron A. J. Walsh, Mykle L. Hoban, Anne M. Lee, Richard L. Pyle, Randall K. Kosaki, Robert J. Toonen, Brian W. Bowen
Summary: This study examines the phylogeography of two mesophotic coral fish species and compares them to shallow-reef species. The results suggest that mesophotic coral ecosystems may be older and more stable than shallow coral ecosystems, contradicting previous beliefs. The genetic diversity and coalescence times of the mesophotic fish species are similar to their shallow-water counterparts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gal Eyal, Jack H. Laverick, Pim Bongaerts, Oren Levy, John M. Pandolfi
Summary: Mesophotic coral ecosystems are important, but research on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is scarce due to reasons such as strict diving regulations, involvement of new researchers, logistics, and cost. Research efforts on these ecosystems are declining, and unless this changes, the knowledge gap between Australian MCEs and other major coral reef regions worldwide will continue to widen. Action is needed to enhance understanding of these ecosystems in Australia.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katherine Mejia-Quintero, Cristina Cedeno-Posso, Santiago Millan, Luis Chasqui
Summary: By analyzing videos and images, we identified ecological units and geomorphic units in mesophotic coral ecosystems on the western side of San Andres Island, Colombia. These findings are important for updating the coral reef atlas of Colombia.
Article
Zoology
Yi-Kai Tea, Ahmed Najeeb, Joseph Rowlett, Luiz A. Rocha
Summary: Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis is redescribed based on a juvenile holotype and compared to other known species. The study identified differences in material collected from the Maldives, which led to the description of a new species, Cirrhilabrus finifenmaa sp. nov. The new species is distinguished by its coloration and scale counts, and its relationship with Cirrhilabrus wakanda from Tanzania is briefly discussed.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karina Massei, Maria Cecilia Silva Souza, Richarde Marques da Silva, Dimitri de Araujo Costa, Pedro Costa Guedes Vianna, Maria Cristina Crispim, George Emmanuel Cavalcanti de Miranda, Linda Eggertsen, Christinne Costa Eloy, Celso Augusto Guimaraes Santos
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Seixas coral reef in northeastern Brazil and found that the impacts of tourism have exacerbated negative effects on the reef's marine ecosystem. The findings emphasize the importance of strategic planning and resource management to protect the biodiversity and ecological integrity of coral reefs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
Florian Baletaud, Gael Lecellier, Antoine Gilbert, Laetitia Mathon, Jean-Marie Come, Tony Dejean, Mahe Dumas, Sylvie Fiat, Laurent Vigliola
Summary: Seamounts are deep-sea ecosystems that have fewer fish species compared to coral reefs, but higher biomass of large fish species like sharks in the shallowest seamounts. This study calls for the protection of the shallowest seamounts.
Article
Limnology
Keir J. Macartney, Marc Slattery, Michael P. Lesser
Summary: The study showed that as depth increases in the Caribbean, sponge cover significantly increases with shifts in trophic resource utilization. Stable isotope analysis revealed that sponges consume more heterotrophic picoplankton with depth, with species-specific patterns of host utilization of different resources. Different species of sponges exhibit varying reliance on autotrophic resources as depth increases, influenced by their microbiomes.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Maria Cristina Diaz, Marissa Nuttall, Shirley A. Pomponi, Klaus Ruetzler, Sarah Klontz, Christi Adams, Emma L. Hickerson, G. P. Schmahl
Summary: A synoptic guide of common sponge species in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary region was developed through direct sampling and in-situ photographic records. A total of 64 species were identified, with 34 identified to species level, 13 showing affinity to known species, 15 identified only to genus level, and one specimen assigned to a family. This study expands our understanding of Gulf of Mexico sponge biodiversity and may contribute to the discovery of new species.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren T. Toth, Travis A. Courtney, Michael A. Colella, Rob R. Ruzicka
Summary: SCTLD has had an unprecedented impact on the western Atlantic coral-reef ecosystems, causing a decline in reef-accretion potential and altering the composition of coral assemblages. The loss of reef-building corals has significantly decreased carbonate production, leading to a decline in their capacity for growth.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gonzalo Perez-Rosales, Michel Pichon, Heloise Rouze, Sebastien Villeger, Gergely Torda, Pim Bongaerts, Jeremey Carlot, Valeriano Parravicini, Laetitia Hedouin
Summary: This study quantitatively examined the α and β generic diversity of coral reefs across a wide depth gradient in French Polynesia, and found that the mesophotic coral ecosystems host higher diversity than shallow reefs. It also found that increasing depth increases the differences in coral genus composition across islands.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mykle L. Hoban, Michael Bunce, Brian W. Bowen
Summary: This study used environmental DNA metabarcoding to assess biodiversity patterns in mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) in the Hawaiian Archipelago. The results show significant community differences between depth zones, with fishes not showing distinct zonation. This suggests that MCEs may serve as refugia for fishes, but invertebrate communities in deeper areas are distinct, indicating limited connectivity among reef fauna.
Article
Ecology
Keir J. Macartney, M. Sabrina Pankey, Amelia Clayshulte Abraham, Marc Slattery, Michael P. Lesser
Summary: As depth increases on Caribbean mesophotic reefs, sponge consumption of particulate organic matter increases while the composition and function of their microbial communities change.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gal Eyal, Jack H. Laverick, Or Ben-Zvi, Kristen T. Brown, Netanel Kramer, Raz Tamir, Yoav Lindemann, Oren Levy, John M. Pandolfi
Summary: Climate change is degrading coral reefs worldwide, and mesophotic coral ecosystems are facing the threats of bleaching and population decline, questioning their potential as refuges.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jenny Fong, Peter A. Todd
Summary: The study reveals that interactions between corals and macroalgae vary greatly across sites and seasons, with different coral species showing varying effects on macroalgae. It is important to consider seasonal fluctuations of macroalgae for understanding their overall long-term impacts.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)