DEEPLIFE in Royal Society Open Science (2021)
Mesophotic coral communities in French Polynesia
The mesophotic zone rises as a refuge for corals from accelerating global warming. Climate change and consequent global warming are causing the disappearance of reefbuilding corals worldwide because of coral bleaching. While bleaching episodes significantly impact shallow waters, little is known about their impact on mesophotic coral communities.
During the heatwave that affected Polynesian reefs in 2019, scientists from the “DEEPHOPE” expedition monitored with UNDER THE POLE the bleaching effects along an extreme depth range (6 to 90 m), a worldwide premiere. This pioneering survey reveals that the incidence of coral bleaching decreases with depth, with no bleaching observed at lower mesophotic depths (>= 60m).
The mesophotic zone (between 30 – 150 m) rises as a potential refuge and may play a role in providing extra time for corals from escalating global warming compared to the surface.
Summary from the article "Mesophotic coral communities escape thermal coral bleaching in French Polynesia. Royal Society Open Science (2021)
Read the full article via the link below.
Authors - Pérez-Rosales G., Rouzé H., Torda G., Bongaerts P., Pichon M., Under The Pole Consortium, Parravicini V., Hédouin L.