Semi-quantitative, timed censuses offish abundance and diversity were made offEnewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands at depths from 30 to 180 m, by means of the RSV MAKAU'I, and supplemented by a series of qualitative dives at various points around the atoll to depths of 300 m. Ana]ysis of data indicate a monotonic depth-associated decline in number of species seen, a peak in total population density between 90 and ]20 m, and abrupt declines between 75 and 90 m in community diversity and proportional representation of shallow water species. Each of six trophic groups exhibited a different depth distribution, about the abundances of coralivores, herbivores, benthic predators and cleaners correlated across depths. Data suggest the occurrence of a single faunal assemblage of reef fishes from the surface to approximately 250 m, which can, however, be profitably divided into three communities: a shallow fore reef community (0 to 75-90 m) characterized by high diversity and high densities of fishes, a middle fore reef community (75-90 to 120 m) dominated by a few species of planktivores and characterized by a high percentage of species that do not normally occur closer to the surface, and a deep fore reef community (120 to roughly 250 m) characterized by very low levels of fish diversity and abundance.

Depth range
30- 300 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
20 x (total of 8672 words)

Classification
* Presents original data
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
* Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'

Fields
Community structure
Biodiversity
Ecology

Focusgroups
Fishes
Overall benthic (groups)

Locations
Micronesia - Marshall Islands

Platforms
Manned Submersible