At over 1000 km in length, the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) is a near-continuous reef system within four different countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. MAR is the largest reef system in the Northern Hemisphere and is comprised of fringing and barrier reefs and offshore atolls, which extend into deeper water where mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; 30–150 m depth) are found. Scientific studies of MCEs in the MAR began in the 1970s, and despite a rapid increase in marine research throughout the region in recent years, MCE ecological research has been restricted to a few locations and has been focused on hard (scleractinian) corals and fish communities. Hard corals have been documented at a maximum depth of 102 m in the MAR. However, hard corals do not represent the dominant benthic community at mesophotic depths in most cases. The benthic organ- isms providing structural habitat on many of the known MAR MCEs are octocorals, sponges, black corals, and calcareous macroalgae. Studies on MAR fish communities showed that a large proportion of fish species are found on both shallow reefs and MCEs. The limited data available suggests that MCEs are likely widespread along the MAR. There is evidence of the negative effects of fisheries, sedimentation, harvesting of black corals, and invasive lionfish on MAR MCEs. Improved identification and increase of biological and ecological studies of MCEs, coupled with an extension of scope to include mesophotic habitats in managed areas, should be under- taken to enhance their protection in the region.

Depth range
30- 150 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
105 x (total of 6634 words)

Classification
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
* Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'

Fields
Biodiversity
Community structure
Disturbances
Ecology
Fisheries
Geomorphology
Long-term monitoring
Management and Conservation
Oceanography

Focusgroups
Algae (Macro, Turf and Crustose Coralline)
Antipatharia (Black Corals)
Fishes
Octocorallia (Soft Corals)
Other invertebrates
Overall benthic (groups)
Porifera (Sponges)
Scleractinia (Hard Corals)

Locations
Belize
Honduras - Bay Islands
Mexico - Caribbean Sea

Platforms
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV)
Fishing
Rebreather