Deep‐sea ecosystem engineers

The authors discuss the deep-sea corals which are vibrant and colorful, but their deep ocean habitat subjects them to crushing pressure, no light and low oxygen. Yet they've managed to persist and thrive for long periods of time, some are estimated to be over 4000 years old. Compared to their s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in ecology and the environment 2020-05, Vol.18 (4), p.180-180
Main Authors: Kennedy, Brian RC, Rotjan, Randi D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropogenic factors
Aquatic habitats
Coral reefs
Corals
Deep sea
Deep sea environments
Deep water
Engineers
Environmental degradation
Fishing gear
Habitats
Human influences
Marine debris
Marine pollution
Ocean floor
Polymers
Water pollution
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Summary:The authors discuss the deep-sea corals which are vibrant and colorful, but their deep ocean habitat subjects them to crushing pressure, no light and low oxygen. Yet they've managed to persist and thrive for long periods of time, some are estimated to be over 4000 years old. Compared to their shallow-water cousins, most deep-sea corals don't build big reef structures but still serve similar ecological roles, such as providing three-dimensional benthic structure and habitat. Despite the depths at which they occur, deep-sea corals are not immune to anthropogenic stressors such as pollution, marine debris and habitat destruction. Plastics and derelict fishing gear are found globally in the deep sea. and seafloor mining poses new threats to these long-lived ecosystem engineers. Additionally, deep-water corals rely mainly on the surface for food, which is subject to anthropogenic impacts.
ISSN:1540-9295
1540-9309
DOI:10.1002/fee.2200