Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vertical zonation of megabenthic taxa on a deep photosynthetic reef (50–140 m) in the Au’au Channel, Hawaii

  • Report
  • Published:
Coral Reefs Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study surveyed several locations at depths between 50 and 140 m within the Au’au Channel, Hawaii to characterize the deep reef habitat and determine the depth distribution and relative abundance of the dominant, habitat forming megabenthic taxa. In the Au’au Channel, the depth distribution of megabenthic taxa exhibited a pattern of vertical zonation with relatively few taxa dominating each zone. Macroalgae particularly Halimeda spp. and to a lesser extent scleractinian corals Leptoseris spp. were dominant between 50 and 80 m; Leptoseris spp. were dominant between 80 and 90 m as macroalgae decreased in abundance; the invasive octocoral Carijoa riisei was dominant between 90 and 100 m primarily on rugose features; Antipathes spp. and Leptoseris spp. were dominant between 100 and 120 m on exposed fossil reef; and small wire corals were dominant between 120 and 140 m. In general, the percentage of live benthic cover decreased with depth, particularly below 90 m where a large majority of the area was uncolonized, soft substrata. The gradient of downwelling light intensity appears to play a major role in regulating the depth distribution of photosynthetic organisms, skilophilous organisms, and other benthic fauna, which compete for space with dominant photosynthetic species. The depth of the seasonal thermocline also appears to play an important role in limiting the distribution of tropical benthic species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

References

  • Agegian CR, Abbott IA (1985) Deep water macroalgal communities: A comparison between Penguin Bank (Hawaii) and Johnston Atoll. Proc 5th Int Coral Reef Symp 5:47–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Boland RC, Parrish FA (2005) Description of fish assemblages in the black coral beds off Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. Pac Sci 59:411–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coles SL, Fadlallah YF (1991) Reef coral survival and mortality at low temperatures in the Arabian Gulf: new species-specific lower temperature limits. Coral Reefs 9:231–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colin PL, Devaney DM, Hillis-Colinvaux L, Suchanek TH, Harrison JT (1986) Geology and biological zonation of the reef slope, 50–360 m depth at Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands. Bull Mar Sci 38:111–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher C, Sherman C (1995) Submerged Shorelines on O’ahu, Hawai’i: archive of episodic transgression during the deglaciation. J Coast Res 17:141–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Fricke HW, Knauer B (1986) Diversity and spatial pattern of coral communities in the Red Sea upper twilight zone. Oecologia 71:29–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke H, Meischner D (1985) Depth limits of Bermudan scleractinian corals: a submersible survey. Mar Biol 88:175–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke HW, Vareschi E, Schlichter D (1987) Photoecology of the coral Leptoseris fragilis in the Red Sea twilight zone (an experimental study by submersible). Oecologia 73:371–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grigg RW (1965) Ecological studies of black coral in Hawaii. Pac Sci 19:244–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigg RW (1976) Fisheries management of precious and stony corals in Hawaii. UNIHI-SEAGRANT-TR77–03. University of Hawaii Sea Grant, Honolulu, p 48

  • Grigg RW (2001) Black coral: history of sustained fishery in Hawai’i. Pac Sci 55:291–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grigg RW (2004) Harvesting impacts and invasion by an alien species decrease estimates of black coral yield off Maui, Hawai’i. Pac Sci 58:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grigg RW, Grossman EE, Earle SA, Gittings SR, Lott D, McDonough J (2002) Drowned reefs and antecedent karst topography, Au’au Channel, S.E. Hawaiian Islands. Coral Reefs 21:73–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillis-Colinvaux L (1986a) Deep water populations of Halimeda in the economy of an Atoll. Bull Mar Sci 38:155–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillis-Colinvaux L (1986b) Halimeda growth and diversity on the deep fore-reef of Enewetak Atoll. Coral Reefs 5:19–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones AT (1993) Review of the chronology of marine terraces in the Hawaiian Archipelago. Quaternary Sci Rev 12:811–823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahng SE (2006) Ecology and ecological impact of an alien octocoral, Carijoa riisei, in Hawaii. PhD thesis, University of Hawaii, p 284

  • Kahng SE, Grigg R (2005) Impact of an alien octocoral, Carijoa riisei, on black corals in Hawaii. Coral Reefs 24:556–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahng SE, Maragos JE (2006) The deepest zooxanthellate, scleractinian corals in the world? Coral Reefs 25:254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleypas JA, McManus JW, Menez LAB (1999) Environmental limits to coral reef development: Where do we draw the line? Am Zool 39:146–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang JC (1974) Biological zonation at the base of a reef. Am Sci 62:272–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Liddell WD, Ohlhorst SL, Boss SK (1988) The significance of Halimeda as a space-occupier and sediment-producer, 1–750 m, North Jamaica. Proc 6th Int Coral Reef Symp 3:127–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Littler MM, Littler DS, Blair SM, Norris JN (1985) Deepest known plant life discovered on an uncharted seamount. Science 227:57–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Littler MM, Littler DS, Blair SM, Norris JN (1986) Deep-water plant communities from an uncharted seamount off San Salvador Island, Bahamas: Distribution, abundance, and primary productivity. Deep-Sea Res 33:881–892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maragos JE, Jokiel P (1986) Reef corals of Johnston Atoll: one of the world’s most isolated reefs. Coral Reefs 4:141–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reed JK (1985) Deepest distribution of Atlantic hermatypic corals discovered in the Bahamas. Proc 5th Int Coral Reef Symp 6:249–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlichter D, Meier U, Fricke H (1994) Improvement of photosynthesis in zooxanthellate corals by autofluorescent chromatophores. Oecologia 99:124–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolanski E, Colin P, Naithani J, Deleersnijder E, Golbuu Y (2004) Large amplitude, leaky, island generated, internal waves around Palau, Micronesia. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 60:705–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamano H, Hori K, Yamauchi M, Yamagawa O, Ohmura A (2001) Highest-latitude coral reef at Iki Island, Japan. Coral Reefs 20:9–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the support of this research by grants from the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Project # R/CR-8, sponsored by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, SOEST, under Institutional Grants No. NA05OAR4171048 from NOAA Office of Sea Grant, Department of Commerce. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any of its subagencies. Special thanks to E. Hochberg for assistance with the optical data and H. Spalding for assistance with macroalgae taxonomy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oceanography, University of Hawaii, 1000 Pope Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    S. E. Kahng

  2. Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, University of Hawaii, 1000 Pope Road, MSB 303, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    C. D. Kelley

Authors
  1. S. E. Kahng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. D. Kelley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. E. Kahng.

Additional information

Communicated by Environment Editor R. van Woesik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kahng, S.E., Kelley, C.D. Vertical zonation of megabenthic taxa on a deep photosynthetic reef (50–140 m) in the Au’au Channel, Hawaii. Coral Reefs 26, 679–687 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0253-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0253-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation