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Deep Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (DeepCRES)
Issue
Coral reefs and associated seagrass and mangrove communities are among the most complex and diverse ecosystems on earth. They support important fishing and tourism industries, protect coasts from wave and storm damage, build tropical islands, contain the ingredients for an array of potential pharmaceuticals, and provide local communities with a source of food, materials and traditional activities. Coral reefs in shallow coastal waters can be harmed by natural events such as hurricanes, as well as human activity because of their nearness to coastal development and recreational areas, and the potential for their easy removal. Deep, light-dependent coral ecosystems (50-100m) are usually more isolated from these events and may allow these areas to act as a refuge to species depleted in the shallow coral reefs, and to harbor a higher proportion of rare or endemic species compared to shallower coral reef environments. This may warrant special resource management attention and protection to help maintain local and/or regional biodiversity. Thus, research in this area offers potential findings of major interest for resource management.
Approach
Relatively little attention has been paid to coastal environments in the 50-100 m depth range. Most of the work on coral reefs has focused on relatively shallow (<30m) environments. Those studies that are below 50 m which are typically on slopes, are difficult to sample with conventional techniques and are far less common. The deep water coral reef ecosystems described here are distinct from “true” deep water corals that occur at greater depths and are not light-dependent. The depth range where deep water hermatypic coral reefs occur is referred to in the scientific literature as the “twilight zone.” Key objectives of this research would be to understand the processes that regulate deep hermatypic reef ecosystems and assess their vulnerability to exploitation and human disturbance.
Related Links
NOAA Initiates $1.4 Million Three-Year Project to Study Valuable Deep Hawaiian Coral Ecosystems view full press release here
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Note: HCRI-RP is a CSCOR coral reef core program contributing to the mission of NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program.