<Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphyllia paradivisa</Emphasis>, a successful mesophotic coral in the northern Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba,Red Sea |
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Authors: | Gal Eyal Lee Eyal-Shaham Itay Cohen Raz Tamir Or Ben-Zvi Frederic Sinniger Yossi Loya |
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Institution: | 1.Department of Zoology,Tel-Aviv University,Tel Aviv,Israel;2.The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of Eilat,Eilat,Israel;3.The Institute of Earth Sciences,The Hebrew University of Jerusalem,Jerusalem,Israel;4.Faculty of Life Sciences,Bar-Ilan University,Ramat Gan,Israel;5.R&D Center for Submarine Resources,Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology,Yokosuka,Japan;6.Tropical Biosphere Research Center,University of the Ryukyus,Nishihara,Japan |
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Abstract: | Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) host a thriving community of biota that has remained virtually unexplored. Here we report for the first time on a large population of the endangered coral species Euphyllia paradivisa from the MCEs of the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba (GOE/A), Red Sea. The mesophotic zone in some parts of the study site harbors a specialized coral community predominantly comprising E. paradivisa (73 % of the total coral cover), distributed from 36 to 72 m depth. Here we sought to elucidate the strict distribution but high abundance of E. paradivisa in the MCEs at the GOE/A. We present 4 yr of observations and experiments that provide insight into the physiological plasticity of E. paradivisa: its low mortality rates at high light intensities, high competitive abilities, successful symbiont adaptation to the shallow-water environment, and tolerance to bleaching conditions or survival during prolonged bleaching. Despite its ability to survive under high irradiance in shallow water, E. paradivisa is not found in the shallow reef of the GOE/A. We suggest several factors that may explain the high abundance and exclusivity of E. paradivisa in the MCE: its heterotrophic capabilities; its high competition abilities; the possibility of it finding a deep-reef refuge there from fish predation; and its concomitant adaptation to this environment. |
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