Mesophotic coral bleaching associated with changes in thermocline depth

Clara Diaz (), Nicola L. Foster (), Martin J. Attrill, Adam Bolton, Peter Ganderton, Kerry L. Howell, Edward Robinson and Phil Hosegood ()
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Clara Diaz: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus
Nicola L. Foster: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus
Martin J. Attrill: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus
Adam Bolton: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus
Peter Ganderton: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus
Kerry L. Howell: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus
Edward Robinson: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus
Phil Hosegood: University of Plymouth, Drake Circus

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract As global temperatures continue to rise, shallow coral reef bleaching has become more intense and widespread. Mesophotic coral ecosystems reside in deeper (30–150 m), cooler water and were thought to offer a refuge to shallow-water reefs. Studies now show that mesophotic coral ecosystems instead have limited connectivity with shallow corals but host diverse endemic communities. Given their extensive distribution and high biodiversity, understanding their susceptibility to warming oceans is imperative. In this multidisciplinary study of an atoll in the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean, we show evidence of coral bleaching at 90 m, despite the absence of shallow-water bleaching. We also show that the bleaching was associated with sustained thermocline deepening driven by the Indian Ocean Dipole, which might be further enhanced by internal waves whose influence varied at a sub-atoll scale. Our results demonstrate the potential vulnerability of mesophotic coral ecosystems to thermal stress and highlight the need for oceanographic knowledge to predict bleaching susceptibility and heterogeneity.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42279-2

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