Search

Fig. S1. Morphotype accumulation curves based on presence-absence data of the entire benthic community.; Fig. S2. Morphotype accumulation curves per depth based on abundance data of countable habitat forming taxa only (i.e. all corals and some sponges).; Fig. S3. Vertical profiles of photosynthetically active irradiance (PAR) in Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Station. CTD casts 10326001 to 10326004 (http://batsftp.bios.edu/BATS/ctd/ASCII/b10326_ctd.txt) and 10327001 to 10327005 (http://batsftp.bios.edu/BATS/ctd/ASCII/b10327_ctd.txt),) were used to create the July and August plots, respectively.

Detailed characteristics of each studied site and transect. NNE = North Northeast, PL = Plantagenet Bank, SP = Spittal, TIG = Tiger, DIV = Divers, SUB = Submersibles.

Changes of benthic community structure in relation to depth and site using PERMANOVA on Bray-Curtis similarity matrices of presence-absence data (entire benthic community) and log(x+1)-transformed abundance data (all corals and some countable sponges). Only significant pairwise comparisons (p ≤ 0.05) are shown. NNE = North Northeast, PL = Plantagenet Bank, SP = Spittal, TIG = Tiger.

Changes of benthic community structure in relation to depth and site using PERMANOVA on Bray-Curtis similarity matrices of presence-absence data (entire benthic community) and log(x+1)-transformed abundance data (all corals and some countable sponges). Only significant pairwise comparisons (p ≤ 0.05) are shown. NNE = North Northeast, PL = Plantagenet Bank, SP = Spittal, TIG = Tiger.

Detailed characteristics of each studied site and transect. NNE = North Northeast, PL = Plantagenet Bank, SP = Spittal, TIG = Tiger, DIV = Divers, SUB = Submersibles.

Fig. S1. Morphotype accumulation curves based on presence-absence data of the entire benthic community.; Fig. S2. Morphotype accumulation curves per depth based on abundance data of countable habitat forming taxa only (i.e. all corals and some sponges).; Fig. S3. Vertical profiles of photosynthetically active irradiance (PAR) in Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Station. CTD casts 10326001 to 10326004 (http://batsftp.bios.edu/BATS/ctd/ASCII/b10326_ctd.txt) and 10327001 to 10327005 (http://batsftp.bios.edu/BATS/ctd/ASCII/b10327_ctd.txt),) were used to create the July and August plots, respectively.

Fig. S1. Morphotype accumulation curves based on presence-absence data of the entire benthic community.; Fig. S2. Morphotype accumulation curves per depth based on abundance data of countable habitat forming taxa only (i.e. all corals and some sponges).; Fig. S3. Vertical profiles of photosynthetically active irradiance (PAR) in Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Station. CTD casts 10326001 to 10326004 (http://batsftp.bios.edu/BATS/ctd/ASCII/b10326_ctd.txt) and 10327001 to 10327005 (http://batsftp.bios.edu/BATS/ctd/ASCII/b10327_ctd.txt),) were used to create the July and August plots, respectively.

Detailed characteristics of each studied site and transect. NNE = North Northeast, PL = Plantagenet Bank, SP = Spittal, TIG = Tiger, DIV = Divers, SUB = Submersibles.

Changes of benthic community structure in relation to depth and site using PERMANOVA on Bray-Curtis similarity matrices of presence-absence data (entire benthic community) and log(x+1)-transformed abundance data (all corals and some countable sponges). Only significant pairwise comparisons (p ≤ 0.05) are shown. NNE = North Northeast, PL = Plantagenet Bank, SP = Spittal, TIG = Tiger.

15 pages, Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) and temperate mesophotic ecosystems (TMEs) have received increasing research attention during the last decade as many new and improved methods and technologies have become more accessible to explore deeper parts of the ocean. However, large voids in knowledge remain in our scientific understanding, limiting our ability to make scientifically based decisions for conservation and management of these ecosystems. Here, we present a list of key research and conservation questions to enhance progress in the field. Questions were generated following an initial open call to MCE and TME experts, representing a range of career levels, interests, organizations (including academia, governmental, and nongovernmental), and geographic locations. Questions were refined and grouped into eight broad themes: (1) Distribution, (2) Environmental and Physical Processes, (3) Biodiversity and Community Structure, (4) Ecological Processes, (5) Connectivity, (6) Physiology, (7) Threats, and (8) Management and Policy. Questions were ranked within themes, and a workshop was used to discuss, refine, and finalize a list of 25 key questions. The 25 questions are presented as a guide for MCE and TME researchers, managers, and funders for future work and collaborations, JT, EG, and GE would like to thank ICRS for their student travel grants to attend the ECRS conference. JT would also like to acknowledge funding from BHP and the Ningaloo Outlook Program for their support. Lastly, we are grateful for thoughtful comments on this manuscript from nine reviewers (Sam Kahng, Yehuda Benayahu, Richard Appeldoorn, Heather Spalding, Anthony Montgomery, Shirley A. Pomponi, and three anonymous reviewers) and the editor Kimberly Puglise. GE has received funding for this project from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 796025