We are pleased to encourage submissions to the following special session of the ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico (February 13th�18th, 2011):

S77: Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems: Structure, Patterns, Processes and Refugia
This is an excellent opportunity to present your new data and ideas on MCEs to a diverse and expert audience at a venue with an exciting scientific program. We encourage submissions that push the boundaries of what is currently known about MCE ecology, oceanography, geology, and future trajectories in a changing climate. Submit your abstract for oral or poster presentation by midnight (23:59 US CDT) 11th October, 2010 to the ASLO website.

Please be sure to reference the MCE session number (S77) and the session title.

Background for Special Session:
Light-dependent Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) that form on deep walls, shelves, and banks remain among the least studied and most poorly understood reefs systems in the world. Despite their historical anonymity, it has been suggested that MCEs may represent important refuge for shallow water coral reef species. This hypothesis is based on observational evidence that MCEs are extensive, diverse, and experience oceanographic regimes that are buffered from the effects of climactic extremes, such as high sea surface temperatures. However, it is not clear whether MCEs will be able to serve as refugia due to multiple interacting, and possibly synergistic stressors. To examine the refuge hypothesis, this session will take advantage of MCE studies that have been conducted in the last ten years. We encourage submissions that explore physical processes, geomorphology and biological characteristics that shape the structure, extent, and health of MCEs and their connectivity to shallow water coral reef ecosystems. We also encourage comparative studies examining the differing vulnerability of MCEs within and between regions and ocean basins.

ASLO website

The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences-Eilat (IUI) is proud to be the host of the First International Scientific Technical Diving Workshop. Scientists, students, institutes, technical personnel, and individuals who are actively involved or interested in the application of technical diving to the realm of marine sciences are invited to participate. The aims of the workshop are to showcase and highlight work being done at the IUI and globally, introduce interested groups to these powerful tools and approaches to bring more participants into this area of research, to share, cross-pollinate, and problem solve between already active researchers, and to create an international community of collaborating scientific technical diving groups. The conference will be held from June 20 - June 25 (2010) in Eilat, Israel. Click here for the workshop flyer, or here for detailed information and the registration form.

NOW AVAILABLE: Detailed schedule for the workshop

IUI Website

In June 2010, the peer-reviewed journal Coral Reefs published its first theme section (volume 29, issue 2) dedicated to mesophotic coral ecosystems. This is a huge step forward in increasing the visibility amongst the coral science community of these little known and poorly understood ecosystems, found in tropical and sub-tropical regions in depths ranging from 30-40 m to over 150 m in depth. This special issue contains three review articles that identify the state of knowledge regarding mesophotic coral ecosystems and their community structure, geomorphology, and the �refugia� hypothesis, as well as seven research articles. The special issue is a direct result of the 2008 Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Workshop hosted by the Perry Institute for Marine Science and organized by NOAA (Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research and NOAA�s Undersea Research Program) and the U.S. Geological Survey. The theme section is available direct from the publisher SpringerLink.

SpringerLink website

The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) has been exploring the deepwater communities of the Flower Garden Banks NMS, and other sites in the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico (NWGOM) since 2001. The cruises have primarily utilized remotely operated vehicles (ROV) to gain access to these mesophotic depths. To date, the sanctuary and its partners have conducted thirteen cruises to explore and characterize the mesophotic habitats, resulting in the collection of over 9,000 georeferenced images, more than 200 hours of video footage, and over 250 directed samples.

During each research cruises, annotations were recorded while observing the ROVs live video feed. The high resolution digital still images have been inventoried and species identifications made to the lowest possible level, and are available spatially through GIS based mapping files. Biology is being linked to taxonomy through the collection of voucher specimens. These samples have been photographed insitu on the seafloor, then collected and identified using traditional and scanning electron microscope (SEM) morphological identification by experts in various fields. This sampling effort has led to the development of regional species catalogs for the major biological components: antipatharians, octocorals, fish, sponges, and invertebrates identification posters are currently available. (more information).

For more information and georeferenced ROV track information and a selection of images for the cruises, please visit the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) Interactive Map. This is a part of a continuing effort to characterize the Mesophotic habitat of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico, with additional research expeditions planned for 2010 and 2011.

FGBNMS website

The government of Israel (through the Nature and Parks Authority) announced the establishment of the "Coral Sea Reserve" in Eilat (Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea). This is actually expanding the current reserve to include the deep coral reef. The decision was based on the scientific information that has accumulated over the years by the Deep Coral Reef Research team from the IUI. The original reserve ("Coral Beach Reserve") in Israel was established in 1966. This was a small shore-based reserve with an area of 125,000 m2 (area 1 in the figure). In 2002 the authorities expanded the reserve to create a marine reserve ("South Sea Reserve") in the southern part of the Israeli coastline (area 2 in the figure). This expanded the reserve with additional 332,000 m2 of sea area. On November 1st 2009 the Israeli government announced the establishment of the "Coral Sea Reserve", expanding the previous reserves to include the shore + 500 m out to sea. This expanded the reserve to 1,293,000 m2 and includes the mesophotic reef (area 3 in the figure).

NOAA‘s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and Office of Ocean Exploration and Research released the first report to identify critical research needs for mesophotic coral ecosystems, which are found in tropical and subtropical regions at intermediate depths ranging from 30 to 150 meters. Little is known or understood about these ecosystems, but scientists think that they may serve as potential sources to reseed or replenish degraded shallow-water coral populations and as critical habitats for commercially and ecologically important species. NOAA collaborated on the report with experts from state, federal, and international agencies, academia, and nongovernmental organizations. For more information and copies of the Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Research Strategy, please visit the NOAA CSCOR website.

Research Strategy Report

Ada Alamaru and colleages published a new study in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta on the individual contributions of autotrophy and heterotrophy in corals over a large depth gradient: "Reef building corals are considered mixotrophic organisms, satisfying their nutritional need both by predation and from organic carbon translocated from their algal symbionts. Shallow water corals rely mostly on their symbiotic algae as the main source for organic carbon. However, corals that live in mesophotic reefs experience extremely low light levels leading to a significant decrease in the input from their symbionts. The current study aimed to explore the nutritional plasticity of two common Red Sea coral species along a 60 m depth gradient. In this novel research the authors compared the branching, small polyped Stylophora pistillata with the massive, large polyped Favia favus. They found that in shallow water, S. pistillata utilizes autotrophic carbon (i.e. originating from its algal symbionts) for lipids synthesis while from 30 m deeper it starts to utilize heterotrophic acquired carbon for the synthesis of lipids. However, S. pistillata cannot sufficiently increase its predation rate to compensate for the reduction in autotrophic carbon, resulting in decreased lipid reservoirs at depth. On the other hand, Favia favus uses heterotrophically acquired carbon for lipid synthesis at all depths and is able to compensate for the reduction in photosynthates. The differential ability of hermatypic corals to adapt to low light levels may have a significant effect on their depth distribution."

For more information read the abstract.

The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University announced the top 10 new species list for 2008 which includes the discovery of a mesophotic damselfish, Chromis abyssus, by Rich Pyle. The list draws attention to the undiscovered biodiversity on this planet. Discovered off the Belau Islands (Palau) at 110 m, this “damsel in the deep blue sea” is dark gray with a large iridescent blue spot at the center of each scale. Direct observations and hand collections were accomplished while diving on mixed-gas closed-circuit rebreathers. Results indicate that C. abyssus prefers depths in excess of 115 m and lives among boulders and rock outcroppings. To see the top 10 list, visit the CNN article. For more information about Rich Pyle’s work on mesophotic damselfish, please read the scientific publication.

CNN article

A team of researchers from NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, University of Hawaii Manoa, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Bishop Museum has returned from a successful six-day expedition aboard the University’s research vessel, R/V Ka‘imikai-o-Kanaloa. The expedition included a total of six dives using the deep diving submersible Pisces V and 8 dives using the RCV-150 remote operated vehicle, both operated by the University’s Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL). This three year, multi-institutional project, is funded by two separate NOAA grants ($1.4 million from NOAA’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CRES), and $150,000 from NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) administered through HURL), and seeks to characterize the nature of mesophotic (low light) coral reef ecosystems, which occur at depths of 30–to more than 130 meters (98–492 feet) off Maui. Discovery of these deep reefs is relatively recent in large part because they occur at depths below what can safely be accessed using conventional SCUBA. Although certain kinds of organisms, such as black coral, have been known to exist in these depths for decades, recent research in Hawaii has discovered extensive complexes of densely-packed scleractinian (stony) corals. These mesophotic reefs include large, bowl-shaped corals of the genus Leptoseris, and low relief, finely branched corals tentatively identified as a species of Anacropora.

“One of the questions we’ve had is whether these reefs provide habitat for reef fish species found on shallow reefs. At least for the mesophotic reef complex of Leptoseris corals much of this expedition focused on the answer is definitely yes” said Dr. John Rooney, Coastal Geomorphologist at NOAA and Chief Scientist on the expedition. “Although we mostly documented adult fish, there are reasons to think they may be particularly important habitat for juvenile fish. We were fortunate to be able to work with HURL’s research submersibles, remotely operated vehicle, and the fantastic team that operates them. This work would be much further behind without their help,” said Rooney.

Other highlights of the cruise include findings that reefs of Anacropora corals cover much more of the seafloor of the ‘Au‘au Channel than was previously realized. These reefs encompass many square kilometers of seafloor yet were unknown until quite recently. Also, dives in the Pisces V submersible confirmed the presence of a new species of black coral on Hawaii\'s deep reefs. This species is similar to the one harvested for jewelry, but is in deeper water. Ongoing research will study the management implications of this discovery.

Heather Spalding, Phychologist and Graduate Student at the University of Hawaii, Manoa Botany Department comments that, “During our expeditions we have observed that certain deep water limu, (algae), are different species from shallow water limu, and we’ve discovered numerous new species in this mesophotic, or low-light, zone. Conducting research in this area is critical to our understanding of coral reef biodiversity. Hawai’i can’t protect its marine resources until we understand what exists in these ecosystems”.

Science teacher, Nancy Halley, of Hui Malama Learning Center on Maui accompanied the scientists on the expedition to assist in sample processing and to observe the operation of the scientists, HURL crew, and crew of the R/V Kai’imikai o Kanaloa. This component of the expedition was part of the Teacher-At-Sea program, (a collaboration with the National Science Foundation GK-12 program through the University of Hawaii Manoa, and the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Deep Reef project). “The scientists HURL, and the R/V Kai’imikai o Kanaloa crews have made significant contributions towards my ability to effectively engage students in the importance of science research, coral reef resource management, and pathways towards a career in science,” Halley stated.

In addition to Rooney, the research team included Tony Montgomery, Aquatic Biologist at the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources; stable isotope chemist Dr. Brian Popp, (Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Hawai‘i); algae specialist Heather Spalding (Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i); marine invertebrate specialist Holly Bolick, of the Department of Natural Sciences, Bishop Museum; fisheries biologist Raymond Boland (NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center); Christina Bradley, biological oceanography graduate student (Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai’i; coral researcher Daniel Wagner, (Department of Oceanography, University of Hawai‘i); and Tonatiuh Trejo, research assistant, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. This is a NOAA/Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research-funded project.

For more information contact: Dr. John Rooney

The use of mixed-gas rebreather technology in the Caribbean Coral Reef Institute’s Deep Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies (DeepCRES) project has allowed unprecedented observation and sampling capabilities in the study of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs). For the highly diverse algae of MCEs, this has resulted in the collection and subsequent identification of a number of new geographic records to Puerto Rico as well as recognition of species new to science. The former include the first record of Predaea laciniosa for the Atlantic, and Rhododictyon bermudense, an exclusively deep-water species known from only a handful of sites in the Caribbean. Collections of Hypoglossum caloglossoides from Puerto Rico at 70 m depth represent the deepest that the species is known to grow. New to science are two calcified and encrusting species of Peyssonnelia that provide important substratum cover in MCEs. CCRI researchers David Ballantine and Hector Ruíz are also describing additional new species of crustose, non-calcified algae of the genera Sonderopelta and Ethelia. For more information, please contact David Ballantine.

In August 2008, PIFSC researchers from the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division and Ecosystem and Oceanography Division studied deepwater, light-dependent, coral reefs in the Au'au Channel between Maui and Lana'i in the main Hawaiian Islands. During an 8-day cruise aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette, the scientists completed 29 tows with a camera sled to map the distribution and composition of benthic communities and associated reef fish populations.

Read more...

The principle objective of this project is to increase current understanding of the transition zone between shallow tropical coral reefs and the aphotic deep-water communities. This zone has had limited prior exploration and discovery. The few surveys conducted to date provide little information about the extent or distribution of the transition zones, and their biodiversity and ecology.

Expedition website

Although the shallow leeward environment near Bonaire between 0-12 m was mapped in the 80s by a Dutch scientist, Dr. Fleur van Duyl, little to no survey work has been conducted on the deeper reef (60-100 m) on into deeper water (100-300 m). The goal of the Bonaire expedition is to survey this unique environment over a greater depth range than can be reached with compressed air SCUBA, using 3 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), technical diving, and in a future year, a manned submersible.

Expedition website

The online Benthic Habitat Viewer (BHV) database, developed and managed by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), provides easy access to a large database of underwater imagery characterizing coral reef organisms and habitats.

NCCOS BHV website

Experience life at sea aboard NOAA's R/V Nancy Foster and discover how seafloor characterization data, including imagery, is collected. For each research expedition, participating scientists and staff will provide day-by-day updates of the mission activities, including major findings, pictures and video.

Expedition website

The cruise report of the Southern Surveyor 2007 mission "Evolution of drowned shelf edge reefs in the Great Barrier Reef; implications for understanding abrupt climate change, coral reef response and modern deep water benthic habitats" is now available on-line. Part of this mission was to explore the unknown benthic community structure of the mesophotic zone.

Voyage report (PDF)