INTRODUCTION  Recent advances in deep-sea coral science and emerging links to conservation and management of deep-sea ecosystems Karen Miller1,*, Helen Neil2, Di Tracey2

Miller, Karen J.; Neil, Helen L; Tracey, Dianne M.

doi:10.3354/meps08452

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…In 2006 the United Nations General Assembly (Resolution A/RES/61/105) in an attempt to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) from destructive fishing practices in international waters specifically included coldwater corals. As a result, some deep-sea corals have gained the status of protected species because of the closure of seamounts to fishing (Miller et al 2009 Davies et al, 2007) and works focusing on conservation aspects of these environments are at a pioneer stage (Davies et al, 2007;Morgan et al, 2007;Armstrong and van den Hove, 2008) that the policy issues adopted for the protection of deep-water corals and the surrounding habitats are needed for a proper management not only for the conservation of the L. pertusa but also of the natural resources of these systems.…”

Section: Implications For Deep-sea Biodiversity Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep-water scleractinian corals promote higher biodiversity in deep-sea meiofaunal assemblages along continental margins

Bongiorni

Mea

Gambi

et al. 2010

Biological Conservation

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Deep-water coral ecosystems are hot spots of biodiversity and provide habitats and refuges for several deep-sea species. However, their role in shaping the biodiversity of the surrounding open slopes is still poorly known. We investigated how meiofaunal biodiversity varies with and is related to the occurrence of deep-water living scleractinian corals and coral rubble in two deep-sea areas (the Rockall Bank, north-eastern Atlantic) and the Santa Maria di Leuca (central Mediterranean). In both areas, replicated sampling on alive and dead coral areas and from the adjacent slope sediments without corals (at the same and increasing depths) allowed us to demonstrate that sediments surrounding the living corals and coral rubble were characterised by higher meiofaunal biodiversity (as number of higher taxa, and nematode species richness) than the slope sediments. Despite the soft sediments surrounding the living coral having a higher nutritional value than those not associated with corals, with the opposite seen for coral rubble, the presence of both alive and dead corals had a significant effect on nematode assemblages. Our data suggest that, due particularly to the effects on habitat heterogeneity/complexity, both living coral and coral rubble promoted higher biodiversity levels than in surrounding slope sediments. We conclude that the protection of deep-water corals can be crucial to preserve the biodiversity of surrounding open slopes, and that the protection of dead corals, a so-far almost neglected habitat in terms of biological conservation, can further contribute to the maintenance of a high deep-sea biodiversity along continental margin

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Section: Implications For Deep-sea Biodiversity Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep-water scleractinian corals promote higher biodiversity in deep-sea meiofaunal assemblages along continental margins

Bongiorni

Mea

Gambi

et al. 2010

Biological Conservation

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“…Deep-sea corals, particularly on seamounts, have received significant attention over the last decade [1]. These corals have been shown to play a role as ecosystem biobuilders, acting as habitats for diverse invertebrate and fish communities [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of Zoanthids (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) on Hawaiian Seamounts: Description of the Hawaiian Gold Coral and Additional Zoanthids

2013

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The Hawaiian gold coral has a history of exploitation from the deep slopes and seamounts of the Hawaiian Islands as one of the precious corals commercialised in the jewellery industry. Due to its peculiar characteristic of building a scleroproteic skeleton, this zoanthid has been referred as Gerardia sp. (a junior synonym of Savalia Nardo, 1844) but never formally described or examined by taxonomists despite its commercial interest. While collection of Hawaiian gold coral is now regulated, globally seamounts habitats are increasingly threatened by a variety of anthropogenic impacts. However, impact assessment studies and conservation measures cannot be taken without consistent knowledge of the biodiversity of such environments. Recently, multiple samples of octocoral-associated zoanthids were collected from the deep slopes of the islands and seamounts of the Hawaiian Archipelago. The molecular and morphological examination of these zoanthids revealed the presence of at least five different species including the gold coral. Among these only the gold coral appeared to create its own skeleton, two other species are simply using the octocoral as substrate, and the situation is not clear for the final two species. Phylogenetically, all these species appear related to zoanthids of the genus Savalia as well as to the octocoral-associated zoanthid Corallizoanthus tsukaharai, suggesting a common ancestor to all octocoral-associated zoanthids. The diversity of zoanthids described or observed during this study is comparable to levels of diversity found in shallow water tropical coral reefs. Such unexpected species diversity is symptomatic of the lack of biological exploration and taxonomic studies of the diversity of seamount hexacorals.

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“…Although there is increasing concern over their destruction worldwide (Roberts et al 2006, Miller et al 2009), research on the reproductive biology of deep-water and cold-water corals remains scarce. Determining reproductive output, recruitment and growth of deep-sea corals is crucial in assessing their regeneration potential in the context of deep ocean management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Planulation periodicity, settlement preferences and growth of two deep-sea octocorals from the northwest Atlantic

Sun¹,

Hamel²,

Mercier³

2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Adaptations and life history strategies have rarely been studied in deep-sea corals. Here we present laboratory data on the timing of larval release, reproductive output, substratum selectivity and growth of 2 alcyonaceans (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from the bathyal zone of eastern Canada. Planulation patterns in 2 Drifa species were significantly influenced by seasonal productivity and the lunar cycle, and larval output was greater in larger colonies (from shallower depths). After release, planulae of Drifa sp. shifted their buoyancy to move between the bottom and the water column, whereas planulae of D. glomerata were largely demersal and crawled on the substratum until settlement (typically occurring after 1 to 30 d in both species). Settlement trials showed that planulae settled more readily on rough natural surfaces covered with biofilm than all other substrata tested and that larvae of colonies from deeper habitats were less selective than those originating from shallower habitats. In both species, the 8 primary mesenteries (and tentacle buds) appeared within 24 h post settlement, and polyps reached a maximum size after 2 to 3 mo. The first branching polyp was observed after ca. 9 mo of growth in D. glomerata, whereas no direct evidence of branching was detected in Drifa sp. over 21 mo of observation, although 2-and 4-polyp colonies were later discovered in the holding tank with adults. Together, these findings highlight dual traits of resilience (i.e. extended breeding period, long-lived larvae) and vulnerability (i.e. substratum selectivity, slow growth) in deep-sea corals.KEY WORDS: Deep-sea · Corals · Reproduction · Brooding · Settlement · Growth · Drifa Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherMar Ecol Prog Ser 410: [71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87] 2010 the widely distributed Nephtheidae (Farrant 1986, Dahan & Benayahu 1997, Hwang & Song 2007, Sun 2009.The production and release of offspring is the initial step in a suite of processes that allows populations of benthic invertebrates to be replenished and maintained. Sexual modes of reproduction in corals include broadcast-spawning and brooding. In the deep ocean (below 200 m), broadcasting appears to be the dominant trait, and reports of brooding species are rare (Cordes et al. 2001, Waller et al. 2008, Sun 2009, Sun et al. 2009. However, investigations of reproductive patterns in deep-sea corals are fraught with difficulty, and knowledge about these remains embryonic at best. Studies of shallow-water corals have shown that they may undergo synchronous or asynchronous spawning, seasonal or so-called continuous reproduction, and lunar or shifted lunar spawnings, and that their patterns of sexual reproduction could be correlated to several factors, such as temperature, depth, and tidal, lunar and solar cycles (Jokiel & Guinther 1978, Stimson 1978, Benayahu & Loya 1983, 1984, Benayahu 1997, Ben-David-Zaslow et al. 1999.After release, larvae must recruit through settlement...

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INTRODUCTION Recent advances in deep-sea coral science and emerging links to conservation and management of deep-sea ecosystems Karen Miller1,*, Helen Neil2, Di Tracey2

Cited by 11 publications

References 41 publications

Deep-water scleractinian corals promote higher biodiversity in deep-sea meiofaunal assemblages along continental margins

Deep-water scleractinian corals promote higher biodiversity in deep-sea meiofaunal assemblages along continental margins

Diversity of Zoanthids (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) on Hawaiian Seamounts: Description of the Hawaiian Gold Coral and Additional Zoanthids

Planulation periodicity, settlement preferences and growth of two deep-sea octocorals from the northwest Atlantic

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