re

U.S. flag An official website of the United States government.
				
				Here's how you know we're official. **Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure websites use HTTPS** A small lock or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to a .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 Search
				Search National Ocean Service




Home
							Ocean Facts
							TOPICS
								Explore All Topics
									Careers
									Economy
									Ecosystems
									Geodesy
									Hazards
									Navigation
									Observations
									Ocean
									Recreation
                                    Sea Level Rise
									Story Maps
									Tools
							
														Education

							
							
							
						
							News
							Podcasts
							Video
							Images
							About Us


Home  Ocean Facts
 What are Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems? Mesophotic coral ecosystems exist in low light—"meso" means middle and "photic" refers to light.  NOAA Ocean Today: The Mesophotic Zone
*You’re entering another dimension. A dimension of water, of darkness, of mystery.  Next stop, The Mesophotic Zone!* Did you enjoy this video? Head to Ocean Today for over a hundred videos that explore all aspects of the ocean realm—exploration and discoveries, marine life and science.  Mesophotic coral ecosystems are found in tropical and subtropical  regions at depths ranging from almost 100 feet to over 490 feet below the ocean’s surface. The dominant communities providing  structural habitat in the mesophotic zone are corals, sponges, and algae. Little  is known or understood about these ecosystems because until recently, studies were  hampered by lack of technology. The upper limit of mesophotic coral ecosystems  coincides with the diving limit for conventional scuba diving (130 feet), but is too shallow and costly for most deep-diving technologies, such  as remotely operated vehicles and submersibles, to operate in. However, advances in undersea technologies in the past decade now make it  possible to investigate these ecosystems. In  an era of significant changes occurring on shallow coral reefs, it is important  for scientists to understand the role of mesophotic coral ecosystems in  tropical and subtropical regions. These ecosystems are regarded as extensions  of shallow coral ecosystems and share common species. As a result, scientists  hypothesize that mesophotic corals may serve as potential sources to reseed or  replenish degraded shallow-water reef species. Mesophotic  coral ecosystems also serve as essential fish habitat for some economically and  ecologically important fish species, which use these areas for spawning,  breeding, feeding, and growth to maturity. Similar to shallower coral  ecosystems, mesophotic coral ecosystems contain organisms with specialized  defenses to ward off predators and microbial infections. These specialized  defenses often yield compounds that can be used to develop natural products that  benefit human health.
  **Search** Our Facts 
  Get **Social**   More **Information**  Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (NOS National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)

			  NOAA's Ocean Today  Did you know? Scientists have found that, in some cases, mesophotic reefs act as potential sources to reseed or renew shallower coral reefs as well as important habitats of many fish species. Bringing to light the existence of healthy mesophotic coral ecosystems provides insights on the devastating declines and opportunities for management and restoration of both shallow-water corals and the newly recognized mesophotic ecosystems.
    **Last updated:**   01/20/23**Author:** NOAAHow to cite this article  Contact Us


Provide Feedback
                        Contact Us
                        Report an error


Science. Service.Stewardship.
 About NOS About Us
						NOS Program Offices
						Media Inquiries
						Website Acknowledgements
 Resources Site Index
						Disclaimer
						Freedom of Information Act
						Accessibility
 More Resources Information Quality
						Privacy Policy
						NOS For Employees
						USA.gov
 National Ocean Service
								National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
								Department of Commerce
 Social