Mesophotic coral-reef environments depress the reproduction of the coral Paramontastraea peresi in the Red Sea

摘要: With more than 450 studied species, coral reproduction is a well-known research field. However, the vast majority of has focused exclusively on shallow reefs. The incentive for present study was: (1) recent accelerated global degradation reefs; (2) growing interest in mesophotic ecosystems (MCEs; 30–120 m depth) and their potential to serve as larval source (3) lack information MCE reproduction. Here, we compare ecology depth-generalist Paramontastraea peresi between (5–10 m) (40–45 habitats Gulf Eilat/Aqaba, Red Sea. Field surveys were conducted assess living cover, abundance, size frequency distribution P. peresi. Four six colonies from each habitat sampled monthly April 2015 January 2017, gametogenesis cycles, fecundity, oocyte sizes measured. reproductive cycle MCEs was shorter reef. Despite having larger polyps, contained significantly smaller fewer oocytes per polyp. In spite relatively stable environmental conditions MCEs, which may contribute survival, scarcity sunlight probably major energetic impediment investment by at depths. Further intensive studies reefs are thus required ability corals this environment reproduce constitute depleted shallow-water