Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat
Abstract Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem service...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45559-5 |
| _version_ | 1827764511169314816 |
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| author | Erik E. Cordes Amanda W. J. Demopoulos Andrew J. Davies Ryan Gasbarro Alexandria C. Rhoads Elizabeth Lobecker Derek Sowers Jason D. Chaytor Cheryl L. Morrison Alexis M. Weinnig Sandra Brooke Jay J. Lunden Furu Mienis Samantha B. Joye Andrea M. Quattrini Tracey T. Sutton Catherine S. McFadden Jill R. Bourque Jennifer P. McClain-Counts Brian D. Andrews Melissa J. Betters Peter J. Etnoyer Gary A. Wolff Bernie B. Bernard James M. Brooks Michael K. Rasser Caitlin Adams |
| author_facet | Erik E. Cordes Amanda W. J. Demopoulos Andrew J. Davies Ryan Gasbarro Alexandria C. Rhoads Elizabeth Lobecker Derek Sowers Jason D. Chaytor Cheryl L. Morrison Alexis M. Weinnig Sandra Brooke Jay J. Lunden Furu Mienis Samantha B. Joye Andrea M. Quattrini Tracey T. Sutton Catherine S. McFadden Jill R. Bourque Jennifer P. McClain-Counts Brian D. Andrews Melissa J. Betters Peter J. Etnoyer Gary A. Wolff Bernie B. Bernard James M. Brooks Michael K. Rasser Caitlin Adams |
| author_sort | Erik E. Cordes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the results of recent surveys of the CWC mound province on the Blake Plateau off the U.S. east coast, an area of intense human activity including fisheries and naval operations, and potentially energy and mineral extraction. At one site, CWC mounds are arranged in lines that total over 150 km in length, making this one of the largest reef complexes discovered in the deep ocean. This site experiences rapid and extreme shifts in temperature between 4.3 and 10.7 °C, and currents approaching 1 m s−1. Carbon is transported to depth by mesopelagic micronekton and nutrient cycling on the reef results in some of the highest nitrate concentrations recorded in the region. Predictive models reveal expanded areas of highly suitable habitat that currently remain unexplored. Multidisciplinary exploration of this new site has expanded understanding of the cold-water coral niche, improved our accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat, and emphasizes the importance of properly managing these systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:05:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7cbecd289e62477eabdc79745cb73956 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:05:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7cbecd289e62477eabdc79745cb739562023-11-12T12:14:06ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-11-0113111410.1038/s41598-023-45559-5Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitatErik E. Cordes0Amanda W. J. Demopoulos1Andrew J. Davies2Ryan Gasbarro3Alexandria C. Rhoads4Elizabeth Lobecker5Derek Sowers6Jason D. Chaytor7Cheryl L. Morrison8Alexis M. Weinnig9Sandra Brooke10Jay J. Lunden11Furu Mienis12Samantha B. Joye13Andrea M. Quattrini14Tracey T. Sutton15Catherine S. McFadden16Jill R. Bourque17Jennifer P. McClain-Counts18Brian D. Andrews19Melissa J. Betters20Peter J. Etnoyer21Gary A. Wolff22Bernie B. Bernard23James M. Brooks24Michael K. Rasser25Caitlin Adams26Department of Biology, Temple UniversityU.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterDepartment of Biological Sciences and Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode IslandDepartment of Biology, Temple UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences and Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode IslandKongsberg Underwater TechnologyOcean Exploration TrustWoods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological SurveyEastern Ecological Science Center, U.S. Geological SurveyDepartment of Biology, Temple UniversityCoastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State UniversityDepartment of Biology, Temple UniversityDepartment of Ocean Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchDepartment of Marine Science, University of GeorgiaDepartment of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural HistoryDepartment of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Nova Southeastern UniversityDepartment of Biology, Harvey Mudd CollegeU.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterU.S. Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterWoods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological SurveyDepartment of Biology, Temple UniversityDeep Coral Ecology Lab, NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean ScienceTDI-Brooks InternationalTDI-Brooks InternationalTDI-Brooks InternationalDivision of Environmental Sciences, Bureau of Ocean Energy ManagementNOAA Office of Ocean Exploration & ResearchAbstract Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the results of recent surveys of the CWC mound province on the Blake Plateau off the U.S. east coast, an area of intense human activity including fisheries and naval operations, and potentially energy and mineral extraction. At one site, CWC mounds are arranged in lines that total over 150 km in length, making this one of the largest reef complexes discovered in the deep ocean. This site experiences rapid and extreme shifts in temperature between 4.3 and 10.7 °C, and currents approaching 1 m s−1. Carbon is transported to depth by mesopelagic micronekton and nutrient cycling on the reef results in some of the highest nitrate concentrations recorded in the region. Predictive models reveal expanded areas of highly suitable habitat that currently remain unexplored. Multidisciplinary exploration of this new site has expanded understanding of the cold-water coral niche, improved our accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat, and emphasizes the importance of properly managing these systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45559-5 |
| spellingShingle | Erik E. Cordes Amanda W. J. Demopoulos Andrew J. Davies Ryan Gasbarro Alexandria C. Rhoads Elizabeth Lobecker Derek Sowers Jason D. Chaytor Cheryl L. Morrison Alexis M. Weinnig Sandra Brooke Jay J. Lunden Furu Mienis Samantha B. Joye Andrea M. Quattrini Tracey T. Sutton Catherine S. McFadden Jill R. Bourque Jennifer P. McClain-Counts Brian D. Andrews Melissa J. Betters Peter J. Etnoyer Gary A. Wolff Bernie B. Bernard James M. Brooks Michael K. Rasser Caitlin Adams Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat Scientific Reports |
| title | Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat |
| title_full | Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat |
| title_fullStr | Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat |
| title_full_unstemmed | Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat |
| title_short | Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat |
| title_sort | expanding our view of the cold water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45559-5 |
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