Mesophotic coral ecosystems are threatened and ecologically distinct from shallow water reefs

Abstract

Deep coral reefs are different Coral reefs are under intense pressure from anthropogenically induced climate warming and habitat destruction. It has been suggested that coral reefs in deeper waters may provide a refuge less affected by human development and climate change. Rocha et al. , however, show that shallow and deep reefs are biologically different. Furthermore, deep (or mesophotic) reefs are also suffering from human impacts. Thus, deep reefs do not represent a potential refuge for other reef ecosystems. Indeed, they too are threatened and need protection. Science , this issue p. 281