Clara Diaz MRes.

In particular, I will be assessing the overlap of species between the shallow-water reefs and the MCEs to determine the role these deeper reefs may play in supporting shallow-water reefs. I will also be investigating the environmental drivers of MCE diversity and distribution within BIOT and along the depth gradient.

MCEs (30 to 200m depth) are important ecosystems, firstly because of their surface area: they occupy two-thirds of the total depth range of zooxanthellate corals and secondly because they support economically- and ecologically- important endemic species. However, research on these ecosystems is still at its infancy, as access to MCEs is difficult due to the depth they are found.

Coral reefs are in crisis from a combination of direct human impacts and pervasive effects of climate change. A possible refuge for reef species occurs in deeper waters, with MCEs. The potential importance of these mesophotic reefs as refuges from the effects of climate change has only recently emerged. This is known as the Deep Reef Refugia Hypothesis (DRRH) and the ‘refuge’ sites may play an important role in the recovery of degraded shallow reefs by providing sources of larvae. On top of that, these ecosystems host an incredible biodiversity, where many of the species inhabiting them are yet undiscovered.

Thus, all these reasons show the importance of studying mesophotic reefs, in order to better understand them, to finally protect them in today’s global context.