Unexplored Refugia with High Cover of Scleractinian Leptoseris spp. and Hydrocorals Stylaster flabelliformis at Lower Mesophotic Depths (75–100 m) on Lava Flows at Reunion Island (Southwestern Indian Ocean).

Mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCEs), Reunion Island, lower mesophotic zone, scleractinian, hydrocoral, refugia, biodiversity, Southwestern Indian Ocean Keywords: mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCEs); Reunion Island; lower mesophotic zone; scleractinian; hydrocoral; refugia; biodiversity; Southwestern Indian Ocean EN mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCEs) Reunion Island lower mesophotic zone scleractinian hydrocoral refugia biodiversity Southwestern Indian Ocean 141 1 06/14/21 20210401 NES 210401 Despite increased attention over the last decade on Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) [[1], [3]], the lower mesophotic zone (60-150 m depth) characterized by low light levels, though still sufficient for coral growth and from which distinct benthic communities occur [[4]], remains poorly studied. The dominant benthic assemblage includes encrusting, foliaceous, and thin plate corals of the genus I Leptoseris i (Agariciidae) extending horizontally and of calcareous branching hydroids, commonly named lace corals (Stylasteriidae), belonging to I Stylaster flabelliformis i (Lamarck, 1816) erected vertically. A mesophotic coral community consisting of significant coral cover and abundance of zooxanthellate scleractinian corals and azooxanthellate hydrocorals was discovered (Figure 1). [Extracted from the article]