Reefs of the Deep: The Biology and Geology of Cold-Water Coral Ecosystems
SciencePublished 27 April 2006
J. Murray Roberts, Andrew J. Wheeler, André Freiwald
Citations1,004
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score10.42
SNIP6.62
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TL;DR
Advances reviewed here include the use of corals as paleoclimatic archives and their biogeological functioning, biodiversity, and biogeography, and the impacts of deep-water trawling and effects of ocean acidification.
Abstract
Coral reefs are generally associated with shallow tropical seas; however, recent deep-ocean exploration using advanced acoustics and submersibles has revealed unexpectedly widespread and diverse coral ecosystems in deep waters on continental shelves, slopes, seamounts, and ridge systems around the world. Advances reviewed here include the use of corals as paleoclimatic archives and their biogeological functioning, biodiversity, and biogeography. Threats to these fragile, long-lived, and rich ecosystems are mounting: The impacts of deep-water trawling are already widespread, and effects of ocean acidification are potentially devastating.
Keywords
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