The modeled distribution of corals and sponges surrounding the Salas y Gomez and Nazca ridges with implications for high seas conservation.

ABSTRACT: The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are two adjacent seamount chains off the west coast of South America that collectively contain more than 110 seamounts. The ridges support an exceptionally rich diversity of benthic and pelagic communities, with the highest level of endemism found in any marine environment. Despite some historical fishing in the region, the seamounts are relatively pristine and represent an excellent conservation opportunity to protect a global biodiversity hotspot before it is degraded. One obstacle to effective spatial management of the ridges is the scarcity of direct observations in deeper waters throughout the region and an accompanying understanding of the distribution of key taxa. Species distribution models are increasingly used tools to quantify the distributions

SUBMITTER: Georgian S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8475544 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature