Mesophotic Corals

Education Theme: Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

Found between the more familiar shallow water coral habitat and the deep ocean is a relatively unknown and poorly understood depth realm referred to as the mesophotic zone – "meso" for middle and "photic" for light. Mesophotic coral ecosystems are characterized by the presence of light-dependent corals and associated communities typically found at depths ranging from 30-40 meters (98-131 feet) and extending to over 100 meters (328 feet) in the Gulf of Mexico.

Choose from the sections below to further explore ocean exploration education resources on mesophotic coral ecosystems.

Essays

Background Information

Explore fact sheets, essays, and stories from our explorers to learn more about the study of mesophotic corals and the ecosystems they support.

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Lessons

Lessons

Access selected lessons developed by educators and scientists to demonstrate key mesophotic coral ecosystem concepts.

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Multimedia

Multimedia

View selected videos and images of mesophotic corals from previous expeditions.

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Expeditions

Expeditions

Explore past expeditions focused on increasing our understanding of mesophotic coral ecosystems.

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The above items are only a selection of the educational materials highlighting mesophotic coral ecosystems on our website.

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