Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems, 1st ed. 2019 Coral Reefs of the World Series, Vol. 12

This book summarizes what is known about mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) geographically and by major taxa. MCEs are characterized by light-dependent corals and associated communities typically found at depths ranging from 30-40 m. and extending to over 150 m. in tropical and subtropical ecosystems. They are populated with organisms typically associated with shallow coral reefs, such as macroalgae, corals, sponges, and fishes, as well as specialist species unique to mesophotic depths. During the past decade, there has been an increasing scientific and management interest in MCEs expressed by the exponential increase in the number of publications studying this unique environment. Despite their close proximity to well-studied shallow reefs, and the growing evidence of their importance, our scientific knowledge of MCEs is still in its early stages. The topics covered in the book include: regional variation in MCEs; similarities and differences between mesophotic and shallow reef taxa, biotic and abiotic conditions, biodiversity, ecology, geomorphology, and geology; potential connectivity between MCEs and shallow  reefs; MCE disturbances, conservation, and management challenges; and new technologies, key research questions/knowledge gaps, priorities, and future directions in MCE research.

1. Mesophotic coral ecosystems: Introduction and Overview 

Part II: Regional Variation in Mesophotic Corarl Ecosystems

2. Bermuda

3. The Bahamas and Cayman Islands

4. Pulley Ridge, Gulf of Mexico, U.S.A.

5. The Mesoamerican Reef

6. Discovery Bay, Jamaica

7. Puerto Rico

8. The United States Virgin Islands

9. Bonaire and Curaçao

10. Brazil

11. The Red Sea

12. The Chagos Archipelago

13. Ryukyus Islands, Japan

14. Taiwan

15. The Philippines

16. Palau

17. Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

18. Papua New Guinea

20. The Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea

21. Fiji

22. American Samoa

23. Cook Islands

24. French Polynesia

25. The Hawaiian Archipelago

26. Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, Eastern Tropical Pacific

27. Chile and Salas y Gómez Ridge 

Part III: Environments, Biodiversity, and Ecology of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

28. The mesophotic coral microbial biosphere

29. Macroalgae

30. Symbiodinium genetic diversity and symbiosis with hosts from shallow to mesophotic coral ecosystems

31. Large benthic foraminifera in low-light environments

32. Sponges

33. Biodiversity of reef‐building, scleractinian corals

34. Reef‐building corals of the upper mesophotic zone of the central Indo‐west

Pacific

35. Sexual reproduction of scleractinian corals in mesophotic coral ecosystems

vs. shallow reefs

36. Coral sclerochronology: similarities and differences in the coral isotopic

signatures between mesophotic and shallow reefs

37. Antipatharians of the mesophotic zone: four case studies

38. Octocorals of the Indo‐Pacific

39. Gorgonian corals

40. Fishes: Biodiversity

41. Disease problems

42. Light, temperature, photosynthesis, heterotrophy, and the lower depth

limits of mesophotic coral ecosystems

43. Bioerosion

Part IV: Are Shallow and Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Connected?

45. Beyond the ‘deep reef refuge’ hypothesis: a conceptual framework to

characterize persistence at depth

46. Coral ecosystem connectivity between Pulley Ridge and the Florida Keys 

Part V: Conservation, Management, and Threats to Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

47. Disturbance in mesophotic coral ecosystems nd linkages to conservation and management

48. Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles ): distribution, impact, and

Management

49. Ecosystem Services of mesophotic coral reefs and a call for better accounting 

Part VI: Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Research: Technologies and Future Directions

50. Advanced Technical Diving

51. Underwater robotic technology for imaging mesophotic coral ecosystems

52. Key questions for research and conservation of mesophotic coral ecosystems and temperate mesophotic ecosystems

Primary source for a basic understanding of Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs)

First reviews of major mesophotic taxa

Looks into MCE’s geographical variations, similarities, differences between MCE’s and potential connectivity between MCEs and shallow reefs

Covers the conservation, management and threats to MCEs and future research directions