Contrasting Patterns of Connectivity Between Populations of Euphotic and Mesophotic Hydroids in Reunion Island Support the Deep Reef Refuge Hypothesis.

Abstract excerpt

In the context of coral reef decline, mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs, 30-150 m) offer hope for the recovery of degraded euphotic reefs. The Deep Reef Refuge Hypothesis (DRRH) postulates the potential of mesophotic reefs to reseed euphotic reefs. This hypothesis needs to be further tested by estimating connectivity along the depth gradient. Mesophotic data are lacking worldwide, particularly in the southwestern...

Topics

• Animals
• Microsatellite Repeats
• Coral Reefs
• Gene Flow
• Genetics, Population
• Bayes Theorem