Gordon Research Seminar — Mesophotic Coral Reef Ecosystems

This forum will focus on leveraging data in data-limited mesophotic environments. Mesophotic coral reef ecosystems comprise a significant portion of total coral reef area but are relatively understudied. As these reefs are typically found between depths of 30 – 150m they are structured by factors such as light and bathymetry. Despite growing interest, sampling and exploration of these reefs remains difficult. Accessing the necessary depths for study poses a significant barrier to research. As this environment is still data-limited, the training of new researchers in both technical diving and rigorous methodologies is critical. This also highlights the need for strong collaborative work.

Topics: Leveraging Ecological and Molecular Approaches Within Data-Limited Mesophotic Ecosystems