Beyond the “Deep Reef Refuge” Hypothesis: A Conceptual Framework to Characterize Persistence at Depth

摘要: The rapid deterioration of coral reefs worldwide has led to a growing interest in identifying areas that can offer protection against adverse conditions including reef communities at intermediate (~15 30 m) and mesophotic (≥30 depths. However, various concepts regarding the protective potential deeper communities, subsequent roles overall resilience persistence, remain poorly defined. Herein, we organize these ideas into an initial conceptual framework review for scleractinian corals how may be supported by limited empirical data is currently available. We distinguish between “depth refuges,” refugia,” areas,” based on nature (i.e., avoidance versus resilience) temporal scope protection. Although past examples have confirmed role ecosystems as short-term, ecological “refuges,” there thus far little support they comprise long-term “refugia.” In contrast, concept “deep persist through disturbance resistance recovery, remains largely unexplored. terms functional such protected ecosystem, “reseeding” “local persistence.” actively reseed shallow ecologically important, but only small proportion shared biodiversity, whereas promote persistence local biodiversity apply across broad range species. evidence very limited, hope incipient delineations presented here provide constructive reference further discussion research importance deep communities.