By Kimberly Puglise, Oceanographer and Project’s Federal Program Officer, NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
Figure 1. Mesophotic coral ecosystems can be found from 30–100+ meters (98-328+ feet) in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Pictured is Geyer Bank at approximately 32 meters. Image courtesy of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary/University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Undersea Vehicles Program. Download larger version (jpg, 2.3 MB).
The term “coral” conjures up visions of warm, tropical waters, or the cold dark depths of the ocean where not a ray of sunlight penetrates. Found between these two visions 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 (Figure 1). The dominant communities providing structural habitat in the mesophotic zone can be comprised of coral, sponge, and algal species (Figure 2).
Little is known or understood about mesophotic coral ecosystems. Investigations into the mesophotic zone have been hampered by technology. The upper limit of mesophotic coral ecosystems happens to coincide with the diving limit for conventional SCUBA diving (30–40 meters), and is too shallow and costly for most deep-diving technologies (e.g., remotely operated vehicles and submersibles) to operate. However, advances in undersea technologies, such as technical diving and shallow remotely operated vehicles, in the past decade have begun to make investigating these ecosystems possible.
Figure 2. McGrail Bank ((145-490 feet, 44-149 meters)habitat includes some large coral colonies (Montastraea cavernosa and Colpophyllia natans) that are also found at East and West Flower Garden Banks. Image courtesy of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary/University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Undersea Vehicles Program. Download larger version (jpg, 738 KB).
In an era of significant coastal ocean changes and documented human impacts on shallow coral reefs, it is important to understand the value and role of mesophotic coral ecosystems in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Mesophotic coral ecosystems may be regarded as extensions of shallow coral ecosystems, including sharing common species. As a result, scientists have hypothesized that mesophotic coral ecosystems may serve as potential sources to reseed or replenish degraded shallow-water coral reef species.
Mesophotic coral ecosystems may be colonized by a number of species that are only found within this depth range or geographical location. These species are known as endemic species. Endemic species are especially vulnerable to disturbances from human activities such as fishing and risk extinction if they are overexploited.
Mesophotic coral ecosystems may also serve as essential fish habitat for economically and ecologically important species (Figure 3). Essential fish habitat is those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity. In addition, similar to shallower coral ecosystems, mesophotic coral ecosystems contain organisms with specialized defenses to ward off predators and microbial infections. These specialized defenses often yield ‘novel' compounds that can be used to develop natural products from the sea (e.g., cancer drugs and skin care products) that benefit to humankind.
Figure 3. Mesophotic coral ecosystems serve as habitat for commercially important species, such as the Marbled Grouper, Dermatolepis inermis, at Parker Bank. Image courtesy of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary/University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Undersea Vehicles Program. Download larger version (jpg, 2.3 MB).
Since mesophotic coral ecosystems are extensions of shallow-water reefs, they are subject to many of the same threats faced by shallower coral ecosystems, such as climate change, fishing, pollution, invasive species, and coastal uses (e.g., dredging and anchoring). The degree and extent each threat poses to these ecosystems is unknown and needs to be evaluated.
Mesophotic corals are adapted to live in low-light conditions and require sunlight for survival. Thus, anything that limits light penetration can be very harmful. For example, activities such as dredging or sediment runoff from the land can cause the water to become murky or turbid, preventing sunlight from reaching this ecosystem.
Increased nutrients may also pose a problem to these ecosystems. At mesophotic depths, there are less plant-eating species (herbivores) compared to shallower depths. Therefore, if an algal bloom (rapid increase in the algal population) is triggered by increased nutrients, there will not be enough species present to reduce the impact of the algal bloom.
The impacts from overfishing are well-documented for shallow coral ecosystems near populated areas. These impacts include the disappearance of large predators (e.g., groupers and snappers) and important herbivores (e.g., parrotfish) from nearshore areas, as well as decreases to the size and abundance of fishes, invertebrates, and corals. As shallower, nearshore areas become overexploited, fishing is spreading to deeper areas and more remote locations. The concern for mesophotic coral ecosystems is that since many of these areas are unprotected, they may be deleteriously impacted.
