Coral bleaching ‘lifeboat’ beneath Ocean surface

Parts of coral ecosystems may survive in unknown deeper environments, according to a United Nations report released at the UN Environment Assembly on Tuesday.

The report was o-authored by the University of Sydney's UNESCO Chair in Marine Science and the findings offers hope to those managing the impact of bleaching on the world's coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef.

Coral bleaching has impacted the majority of the Great Barrier Reef as well as thousands of other coral reef systems globally.

The bleaching is being exacerbated by the continuing increase in global temperatures and the ongoing major El Niño climate event.

The 35 authors of the UNEP report - including the University's Professor Elaine Baker in the School of Geosciences - say as the world's surface reefs are being threatened, part of the ecosystem may survive in these barely known deeper environments, known as mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs).

Shallow coral reefs from the water's surface to 30-40 metres depth are the tip of the iceberg that comprises the ocean's extensive coral ecosystem.

MCEs are intermediate depth reefs starting at a depth of about 40 metres to around 150 metres.

The 'Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems A lifeboat for coral reefs?' report assesses at the role MCEs could play in the preservation of shallower reefs.

The report asks if MCEs can provide a refuge for the species under threat in shallower reef ecosystems and whether they can provide the stock to re-populate shallow reefs if they continue to decline.

Professor Baker said: "Mesophotic coral ecosystems are a seed bank for some organisms… More research needs to be done to firmly establish the role of MCEs in preserving our reefs; they aren't a silver bullet but they may be able to resist the most immediate impacts of climate change -- thereby providing a refuge for some species and potentially helping to replenish destroyed surface reef and fish populations.”

Baker added: "It may be that the cooler, deeper water in MCEs could be more hospitable to many species than the warmer surface water," she said. "They also are less prone to waves and turbulence, therefore potentially offering a more stable environment."

The review brought together information on the geology, biology, distribution and socio-economic aspects of mesophotic reefs in order to examine their potential resilience.

The report found some deep mesophotic coral ecosystems may be less vulnerable to the most extreme ocean warming, but others may be just as vulnerable as their shallow counterparts and cannot be relied on to act as "life boats".

The report was launched at the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in Nairobi, coral reef media roundtable, on Tuesday.