Predicting the Distribution of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago.

ABSTRACT: To support conservation efforts, accurate mapping of marine organism community' distribution has become more critical than ever before. While previous mapping endeavours have primarily focused on easily accessible shallow-water habitats, there remains limited knowledge about the ecosystems lying beyond SCUBA diving depths, such as mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs, ~30-150 m). MCEs are important habitats from an ecological and conservation perspective, yet little is known about the environmental factors that shape these ecosystems and their distribution, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. The goals of this study are to (1) predict the spatial distribution and extent of distinct benthic communities and MCEs in the Chagos Archipelago, central Indian Ocean, (2) test the effectiveness of

SUBMITTER: Diaz C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11962199 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature