Mesophotic.org is an on-line resource database that serves as a repository for information on Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs). The term Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems refers to light-dependent coral communities (and associated communities of algal, sponge and fish species) that occur in the deepest half of the photic zone (starting at 30-40 m and extending to over 150 m) in tropical and subtropical regions. Previously, this depth range has also been referred to as the twilight zone.
MCEs have received very little attention compared to shallow sections of coral reefs due to logistical constraints. However, recent developments in scientific diving (rebreather technology, mixed gas diving: nitrox/trimix) and underwater robotics (ROV, AUV) have sparked a recent interest in these deep reef communities. The purpose of this database is to function as a central repository for this relatively new field of research and make the information available to researchers, managers, policy makers and the general public.
Latest news
A new blenny described from the deep reefs off CuracaoCarole Baldwin and Ross Robertson document a new Haptoclinus blenny from the dee…
New paper in Nature Climate Change calling for the increased protection of mesophotic coral ecosystemsA new commentary paper in Nature Climate Change has been published calling for t…
Florida university to take over operations of Aquarius underwater habitatThe Florida International University will be taking over operations of the Aquar…
“Locally extinct” coral species Seriatopora hystrix found at upper mesophotic depths in OkinawaA new publication in the journal Coral Reefs documents mesophotic communities of…
New modelling study on the spatial extent of mesophotic habitat on the Great Barrier ReefTom Bridge and co-authors from James Cook University and the ARC Centre of Excel…
Latest publications
Characterizing the bacterial associates of three Caribbean sponges along a gradient from shallow to mesophotic depthsJ B Olson and X Gao FEMS Microbiology Ecology (2013) doi: 10.1111/1574-6941.1209…
A new Haptoclinus blenny (Teleostei, Labrisomidae) from deep reefs off Curaçao, southern Caribbean, with comments on relationships of the genusC C Baldwin and R Robertson ZooKeys (2013) 306: 71–81 A second species of the bl…
Call to protect all coral reefsT C L Bridge, T P Hughes, J M Guinotte and P Bongaerts Nature Climate Change (20…
Genetic Structure in the Coral, Montastraea cavernosa: Assessing Genetic Differentiation among and within Mesophotic ReefsD A Brazeau, M P Lesser and M Slattery PLoS One (2013) 8:5, e65845 Mesophotic co…