@article{fdi:010092267,
  title = {{M}arked spatial heterogeneity of macro-benthic communities along a shallow-mesophotic depth gradient in {R}eunion {I}sland},
  author = {{H}oarau, {L}udovic and {G}uilhaumon, {F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {B}ureau, {S}. and {M}angion, {P}. and {L}abarr{\`e}re, {P}. and {B}igot, {L}. and {C}habanet, {P}ascale and {P}enin, {L}. and {A}djeroud, {M}ehdi},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}esophotic coral ecosystems ({MCE}s) have gained considerable attention this last decade but the paucity of knowledge on these ecosystems is pronounced, particularly in the {S}outhwestern {I}ndian {O}cean region. {W}e explore the spatial variation in macro-benthic and scleractinian communities along a wide depth gradient (15-95 m) and among contrasted sites around {R}eunion {I}sland. {V}alues for percent cover of macro-benthic and scleractinian communities varied significantly along depth, resulting in a vertical zonation of communities. {W}e recorded a transition of light-dependent communities towards heterotrophic organisms between shallow and upper mesophotic zones at 30-45 m, and a community shift in the lower mesophotic zone at 75 m. {D}espite overlaps in scleractinian genera distribution along the depth gradient, predominant genera of shallow depths were in low abundance in {MCE}s (> 30 m). {O}ur findings highlight the importance of {MCE}s as distinct ecosystems sheltering diverse, unique habitats and harboring abundant cnidarian-habitat forming organisms. {S}upporting the '{D}eep {R}eef {R}efuge {H}ypothesis', 56% of scleractinian genera spanned shallow to mesophotic depths, while one-third were depth specialists, either shallow or mesophotic. {T}his highlights the limited refuge potential of mesophotic reefs for {S}outhwestern {I}ndian {O}cean coral communities. {O}ur findings establish baseline data for monitoring and conserving {R}eunion {I}sland's {MCE}s.},
  keywords = {{M}esophotic coral ecosystems ; {B}enthic communities ; {C}ommunity shift ; {D}eep refuge hypothesis ; {R}eunion {I}sland ; {S}outhwestern {I}ndian {O}cean ; {REUNION} ; {OCEAN} {INDIEN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}cientific {R}eports - {N}ature},
  volume = {14},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {32021 [17 p.]},
  ISSN = {2045-2322},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1038/s41598-024-83744-2},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010092267},
}