A taxonomic survey of the shallow-water (&lt;150 m) black corals (Cnidaria: Antipatharia) of the Hawaiian Islands

Wagner, Daniel

doi:10.3389/fmars.2015.00024

Cited by 22 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In contrast to corals, sponges increase in diversity, size, feeding rates and growth rates with increasing depth from shallow reefs to upper and lower mesophotic reef depths (Lesser, 2006;Liddell & Ohlhorst, 1988;Slattery & Lesser, 2015). There is a significant increase in sponge density, percentage cover and often biomass, standardized to reef area (per square metre), in both the Caribbean and the Indo-Pacific from shallow to mesophotic depths (Liddell & Ohlhorst, 1988;Slattery & Lesser, 2012, 2015. Like corals, their trophic ecology changes with increasing depth.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global community breaks at 60 m on mesophotic coral reefs

Lesser

Slattery

Laverick

et al. 2019

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Aim Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are unique communities that support a high proportion of depth‐endemic species distinct from shallow‐water coral reefs. However, there is currently little consensus on the boundaries between shallow and mesophotic coral reefs and between upper versus lower MCEs because studies of these communities are often site specific. Here, we examine the ecological evidence for community breaks, defined here as species loss, in fish and benthic taxa between shallow reefs and MCEs globally. Location Global MCEs. Time period 1973–2017. Major taxa studied Macrophytes, Porifera, Scleractinia, Hydrozoa, Octocorallia, Antipatharia and teleost fishes. Methods We used random‐effects models and breakpoint analyses on presence/absence data to identify regions of higher than expected species loss along a depth gradient of 1–69 m, based on a meta‐analysis of 26 studies spanning diverse photoautotrophic and heterotrophic taxa. We then investigated the extent to which points of high faunal turnover can be explained by environmental factors, including light, temperature and nutrient availability. Results We found evidence for a community break, indicated by a significant loss of shallow‐water taxa, at ~ 60 m across several taxonomically and functionally diverse benthic groups and geographical regions. The breakpoint in benthic composition is best explained by decreasing light, which is correlated with the optical depths between 10 and 1% of surface irradiance. A concurrent shift in the availability of nutrients, both dissolved and particulate organic matter, and a shift from photoautotroph to heterotroph‐dominated assemblages also occurs at ~ 60 m depth. Main conclusions We found evidence for global community breaks across multiple benthic taxa at ~ 60 m depth, indicative of distinct community transitions between shallow and mesophotic coral ecosystems. Changes in the underwater light environment and the availability of trophic resources along the depth gradient are the most parsimonious explanations for the observed patterns.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global community breaks at 60 m on mesophotic coral reefs

Lesser

Slattery

Laverick

et al. 2019

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…These have been determined by experts in the respective taxonomic groups to be undescribed, and are in various stages of formal description. At least one putative new species of scleractinian coral ( Leptoseris ) has been identified (as noted above), and one putative new species and one new record of Antipatharian corals for the Hawaiian Archipelago have been recorded ( Wagner et al, 2011 ; Opresko et al, 2012 ; Wagner, 2015a ). Undescribed macroalgae will require molecular characterizations that will likely increase the number and diversity of recognized species.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…However, the reliability of coral phylogenies has been challenged due to limited genetic variation ( Sinniger, Reimer & Pawlowski, 2010 ). In addition to scleractinian corals, eight antipatharian coral species were documented from MCE depths through work associated with this study and published previously ( Wagner et al, 2010 ; Wagner et al, 2011 ; Wagner, 2015a ; Wagner, 2015b ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comprehensive investigation of mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago

Pyle

Boland

Bolick

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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108

104

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Although the existence of coral-reef habitats at depths to 165 m in tropical regions has been known for decades, the richness, diversity, and ecological importance of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) has only recently become widely acknowledged. During an interdisciplinary effort spanning more than two decades, we characterized the most expansive MCEs ever recorded, with vast macroalgal communities and areas of 100% coral cover between depths of 50–90 m extending for tens of km2 in the Hawaiian Archipelago. We used a variety of sensors and techniques to establish geophysical characteristics. Biodiversity patterns were established from visual and video observations and collected specimens obtained from submersible, remotely operated vehicles and mixed-gas SCUBA and rebreather dives. Population dynamics based on age, growth and fecundity estimates of selected fish species were obtained from laser-videogrammetry, specimens, and otolith preparations. Trophic dynamics were determined using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic analyses on more than 750 reef fishes. MCEs are associated with clear water and suitable substrate. In comparison to shallow reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago, inhabitants of MCEs have lower total diversity, harbor new and unique species, and have higher rates of endemism in fishes. Fish species present in shallow and mesophotic depths have similar population and trophic (except benthic invertivores) structures and high genetic connectivity with lower fecundity at mesophotic depths. MCEs in Hawai‘i are widespread but associated with specific geophysical characteristics. High genetic, ecological and trophic connectivity establish the potential for MCEs to serve as refugia for some species, but our results question the premise that MCEs are more resilient than shallow reefs. We found that endemism within MCEs increases with depth, and our results do not support suggestions of a global faunal break at 60 m. Our findings enhance the scientific foundations for conservation and management of MCEs, and provide a template for future interdisciplinary research on MCEs worldwide.

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“…They are part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site, a marine protected area encompassing over 362,000 km 2 that is one of the largest in the world. Previous mesophotic studies in the NWHI focused on the taxonomy, geographic ranges and sexual reproduction of black corals [ 18 , 33 – 36 ], on the distribution of benthic communities [ 17 ], and on endemism among mesophotic reef fish assemblages [ 37 , 38 ]. Here, we investigated changes in the composition and trophic structure of reef fish assemblages with depth in the NWHI.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure of Mesophotic Reef Fish Assemblages in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

et al. 2016

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Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) support diverse communities of marine organisms with changes in community structure occurring along a depth gradient. In recent years, MCEs have gained attention due to their depths that provide protection from natural and anthropogenic stressors and their relative stability over evolutionary time periods, yet ecological structures of fish assemblages in MCEs remain largely un-documented. Here, we investigated composition and trophic structure of reef fish assemblages in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) along a depth gradient from 1 to 67 m. The structure of reef fish assemblages as a whole showed a clear gradient from shallow to mesophotic depths. Fish assemblages at mesophotic depths had higher total densities than those in shallower waters, and were characterized by relatively high densities of planktivores and invertivores and relatively low densities of herbivores. Fishes that typified assemblages at mesophotic depths included six species that are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The present study showed that mesophotic reefs in the NWHI support unique assemblages of fish that are characterized by high endemism and relatively high densities of planktivores. Our findings underscore the ecological importance of these undersurveyed ecosystems and warrant further studies of MCEs.

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A taxonomic survey of the shallow-water (<150 m) black corals (Cnidaria: Antipatharia) of the Hawaiian Islands

Cited by 22 publications

References 51 publications

Global community breaks at 60 m on mesophotic coral reefs

Global community breaks at 60 m on mesophotic coral reefs

A comprehensive investigation of mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago

Structure of Mesophotic Reef Fish Assemblages in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

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