How little we’ve seen: A visual coverage estimate of the deep seafloor
Science Advances,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
11(19)
Опубликована: Май 7, 2025
Despite
the
importance
of
visual
observation
in
ocean,
we
have
imaged
a
minuscule
fraction
deep
seafloor.
Sixty-six
percent
entire
planet
is
ocean
(≥200
m),
and
our
data
show
that
visually
observed
less
than
0.001%,
total
area
approximately
tenth
size
Belgium.
Data
gathered
from
44,000
deep-sea
dives
indicate
also
seen
an
incredibly
biased
sample.
Sixty-five
all
situ
seafloor
observations
dataset
were
within
200
nm
only
three
countries:
United
States,
Japan,
New
Zealand.
Ninety-seven
compiled
been
conducted
by
just
five
Zealand,
France,
Germany.
This
small
sample
problematic
when
attempting
to
characterize,
understand,
manage
global
ocean.
Язык: Английский
Effects of protection on large‐bodied reef fishes in the western Indian Ocean
Conservation Biology,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Янв. 24, 2025
Abstract
Predatory
and
large‐bodied
coral
reef
fishes
have
fundamental
roles
in
the
functioning
biodiversity
of
ecosystems,
but
their
populations
are
declining,
largely
due
to
overexploitation
fisheries.
These
include
sharks,
groupers,
Humphead
wrasse
(
Cheilinus
undulatus
),
Green
parrotfish
Bolbometopon
muricatum
).
In
western
Indian
Ocean,
this
situation
is
exacerbated
by
limited
population
data
on
these
fishes,
including
from
conventional
visual
census
methods,
which
limit
surface
area
surveyed.
We
developed
a
rapid
timed
scuba
swim
survey
approach
for
application
over
large
areas
estimation
abundance
assessment
effectiveness
marine
protected
(MPAs)
maintaining
species’
populations.
Using
method,
we
sampled
7
regions
central
Ocean
Gulf
Aden,
2
remote
reference
locations
where
fishing
prohibited.
Eight
families
were
selected
surveys
across
3
categories:
pelagic,
demersal,
single
species.
Sharks
(Carcharhinidae)
absent
5
regions,
observed
only
Mozambique
Chagos
Archipelago.
Tunas
(Scombridae)
barracudas
(Sphyraenidae)
rarely
(none
Madagascar,
Djibouti,
Iles
Glorieuses).
The
Giant
grouper
Epinephelus
lanceolatus
)
was
all
Comoros
Glorieuses,
at
one
site
Tanzania.
MPAs
not
effective
protecting
species
or
4
pelagic
families,
except
sharks
highly
locations.
However,
with
medium
levels
protection
some
demersal
notably
groupers.
Our
results
support
hypothesis
local
extirpation
many
reefs
Ocean.
Язык: Английский
First characterization of upper mesophotic coral assemblages in Santo Antão (Cabo Verde, East Atlantic Ocean): Demographic and community approaches provide baseline ecological data
Progress In Oceanography,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown, С. 103432 - 103432
Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025
Язык: Английский
Geomorphological drivers of benthic community distribution on high energy temperate mesophotic and rariphotic reefs
Marine Environmental Research,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
unknown, С. 107078 - 107078
Опубликована: Март 1, 2025
Язык: Английский
The mesophotic zone of the marine protected area Espíritu Santo, Gulf of California, can function as a refuge for the ichthyofauna
Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
209, С. 104340 - 104340
Опубликована: Июнь 21, 2024
Язык: Английский
Marked spatial heterogeneity of macro-benthic communities along a shallow-mesophotic depth gradient in Reunion Island
Scientific Reports,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
14(1)
Опубликована: Дек. 30, 2024
Mesophotic
coral
ecosystems
(MCEs)
have
gained
considerable
attention
this
last
decade
but
the
paucity
of
knowledge
on
these
is
pronounced,
particularly
in
Southwestern
Indian
Ocean
region.
We
explore
spatial
variation
macro-benthic
and
scleractinian
communities
along
a
wide
depth
gradient
(15–95
m)
among
contrasted
sites
around
Reunion
Island.
Values
for
percent
cover
varied
significantly
depth,
resulting
vertical
zonation
communities.
recorded
transition
light-dependent
towards
heterotrophic
organisms
between
shallow
upper
mesophotic
zones
at
30–45
m,
community
shift
lower
zone
75
m.
Despite
overlaps
genera
distribution
gradient,
predominant
depths
were
low
abundance
MCEs
(>
30
m).
Our
findings
highlight
importance
as
distinct
sheltering
diverse,
unique
habitats
harboring
abundant
cnidarian-habitat
forming
organisms.
Supporting
'Deep
Reef
Refuge
Hypothesis',
56%
spanned
to
depths,
while
one-third
specialists,
either
or
mesophotic.
This
highlights
limited
refuge
potential
reefs
establish
baseline
data
monitoring
conserving
Island's
MCEs.
Язык: Английский
An underwater imagery identification guide for shallow, mesophotic and deep-sea benthos in Maldives
Biodiversity Data Journal,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
12
Опубликована: Июнь 18, 2024
During
the
2022
Nekton
Maldives
Mission,
we
deployed
a
variety
of
platforms
(snorkelling,
remotely-operated
vehicles
and
manned
submersibles)
to
conduct
video
surveys
biodiversity
composition
shallow
(<
30
m),
mesophotic
(30-150
m)
deep-sea
(>
150
benthos
found
in
Maldives’
central
southern
atolls.
In
total,
~
80
hrs
stereo-video
footage
were
collected
during
benthic
transect
surveys,
which
subsequently
processed
using
annotation
software
order
evaluate
community
composition.
Here,
present
photographic
guide
for
visual,
situ
identification
reef
encountered,
including
corals,
sponges
other
invertebrates
that
inhabit
nearshore
habitats.
We
hope
this
will
aid
future
imagery-based
or
observations
organisms
fieldwork.
A
total
283
morphotypes
identified,
those
belonging
Octocorallia
(61),
Scleractinia
(57),
Porifera
(38),
Asteroidea
(22),
Antipatharia
(15),
Decapoda
(13),
Hydrozoa
(12),
Holothuroidea
(10),
Actiniaria
(9),
Echinoidea
(8),
Annelida
(6),
Chlorophyta
(5),
Gastropoda
(4),
Bivalvia
Ascidiacea
(3),
Crinoidea
Bryozoa
(2),
Cyanobacteria
Zoantharia
Cephalopoda
(1),
Ceriantharia
Corallimorpharia
Ctenophora
Ophiuroidea
Rhodophyta
(1)
an
unknown
category
(1).
Out
these,
identified
40
species
level,
120
genus,
47
family,
14
suborder,
58
class
subclass,
two
phylum
one
was
phylum.
This
represents
first
attempt
catalogue
megafaunal
diversity
underwater
imagery.
Язык: Английский
Vertical structure of Caribbean deep-reef fishes from the altiphotic to deep-sea boundary
Scientific Reports,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
14(1)
Опубликована: Авг. 22, 2024
Abstract
While
recent
technical
breakthroughs
have
enabled
advances
in
the
description
of
reefs
down
to
150
m,
structure
and
depth
zonation
deep-reef
communities
below
m
remains
largely
unknown.
Here,
we
present
results
from
over
10
years
fish
surveys
using
human-occupied
submersibles
at
four
locations
across
Caribbean
Sea,
constituting
one
only
continuous
reef-fish
480
(1
site)
40
300
(3
sites).
We
identify
vertically
stratified
between
bordered
by
an
altiphotic
(0–10
m)
a
deep-sea
(300–480
community.
found
strong
faunal
break
around
that
separates
mesophotic
rariphotic
zones
secondary
breaks
~
70
90
180
200
subdividing
these
into
upper
lower
communities.
From
Roatán,
single
community
dominated
families,
indicating
boundary
realm
occurs
m.
No
differences
were
ranging
20
60
suggesting
fishes
form
ecological
continuum.
some
variability
was
observed
sites,
overall
key
species
characterizing
consistent.
Most
specialists
restricted
zone,
but
many
shallow-reef
extended
depths.
Depth
segregation
among
genus
ten
genera
likely
constitutes
mechanisms
driving
distinctiveness
thereby
diversity
Язык: Английский