@article{fdi:010093373,
  title = {{C}haracterizing the extent of the oceanic 60-150 m deep mesophotic zone in {T}uamotu-{G}ambier {A}rchipelago atolls using multibeam bathymetry and geomorphology data},
  author = {{A}ndr{\'e}fou{\¨e}t, {S}erge and {B}ruy{\`e}re, {O}. and {P}aul, {M}. and {L}oubrieu, {B}. and {L}e {G}endre, {R}. and {B}arazer, {J}. {F}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he mesophotic zone between 60 and 150 m of water depth is of increasing interest to science and management considering its biological communities, the species physiology, and the biological and physical connections with the shallower domain at a variety of ecological and evolutionary time scales. {F}or tropical coral reefs, it is believed that the extent of mesophotic coral ecosystems ({MCE}s) can be much larger than their shallow coral reef counterparts, prompting arguments on which areas conservation funds should be devoted to. {I}n {F}rench {P}olynesia, using a compilation of multibeam bathymetric data collected on 17 {T}uamotu-{G}ambier atolls, and an atoll geomorphology database for 69 atolls, we estimated that the oceanic 60-150 m deep mesophotic zone of 69 atolls spread across 1700 x 800 km of oceanic territory only covers 349 km2. {T}his mesophotic zone is very steep. {A}verage of slope minimums and maximums for the 17 atolls was 27 and 73 degrees, respectively. {T}he 60-150 m surface area represents only 3% of the extent of the lagoons for the same 69 atolls. {T}he consequences of these findings for conservation decisions are multiple and discussed, and future {MCE} work in {T}uamotu-{G}ambier is envisioned.},
  keywords = {{M}esophotic coral ecosystems ; {R}emote sensing ; {G}eomorphology ; {C}onservation ; {F}ishery ; {S}lope ; {A}he atoll ; {T}akapoto atoll ; {POLYNESIE} {FRANCAISE} ; {TUAMOTU} {GAMBIER} {ARCHIPEL} ; {AHE} {ATOLL} ; {TAKAPOTO} {ATOLL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{C}oral {R}eefs},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[16 p.]},
  ISSN = {0722-4028},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00338-025-02654-5},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010093373},
}