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Disturbance in Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems and Linkages to Conservation and Management

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Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Coral Reefs of the World ((CORW,volume 12))

Abstract

Disturbances are a natural part of the ecology of reef ecosystems including mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs). Storms, thermal stress, and volcanism are all documented as direct or indirect impacts on MCEs and have been shaping these systems for millennia. In general, anthropogenic disturbances are increasingly challenging community resistance and resilience and, in some cases, altering community composition. Potential anthropogenic disturbances to MCEs include the effects of climate change (warming waters, extreme temperature fluctuations, sea level rise, and increased intensity and frequency of storms), ocean acidification, physical impacts (marine debris, anchoring, benthic infrastructure, and other mechanical disturbances), harvesting for fisheries and the aquarium trade, impacts from coastal development (turbidity and sedimentation), pollution, invasive species introduction, and increases in disease outbreaks. Many of these disturbances are shown to impact MCEs, with subsequent degradation occurring just as these systems are coming into increasing scientific and management focus. Thermal stress and ocean acidification are suggested to pose the greatest existential threat to MCEs, while many local disturbances are amenable to local management strategies. Increasing knowledge of the distribution and structure of MCEs is a critical first step in management.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the generous contribution of photos by Gal Eyal, Viktor Brandtneris, Robert K. Whitton, and Richard Pyle. We would also like to thank the editors of this book Y. Loya, T. Bridge, and K. Puglise for immense patience in receiving this chapter. Delays were caused in the form of two very large disturbances, major Hurricanes Irma and Maria, that hit the US Virgin Islands on September 6 and 20, 2017, respectively. The effects of these disturbances on the MCEs are unknown, but ongoing research will likely add greatly to our understanding of storm impacts on MCEs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, USVI, USA

    Tyler B. Smith, Daniel M. Holstein & Rosmin S. Ennis

  2. Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, College of the Coast and the Environment, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Daniel M. Holstein

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  1. Tyler B. Smith
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  2. Daniel M. Holstein
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  3. Rosmin S. Ennis
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Correspondence to Tyler B. Smith .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Yossi Loya

  2. National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Kimberly A. Puglise

  3. Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Queensland Museum Network, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    Tom C.L. Bridge

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Smith, T.B., Holstein, D.M., Ennis, R.S. (2019). Disturbance in Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems and Linkages to Conservation and Management. In: Loya, Y., Puglise, K., Bridge, T. (eds) Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems. Coral Reefs of the World, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92735-0_47

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