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Topography, substratum and benthic macrofaunal relationships on a tropical mesophotic shelf margin, central Great Barrier Reef, Australia

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Abstract

Habitats and ecological communities occurring in the mesophotic region of the central Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, were investigated using autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from 51 to 145 m. High-resolution multibeam bathymetry of the outer-shelf at Hydrographers Passage in the central GBR revealed submerged linear reefs with tops at 50, 55, 80, 90, 100 and 130 m separated by flat, sandy inter-reefal areas punctuated by limestone pinnacles. Cluster analysis of AUV images yielded five distinct site groups based on their benthic macrofauna, with rugosity and the presence of limestone reef identified as the most significant abiotic factors explaining the distribution of macrofaunal communities. Reef-associated macrofaunal communities occurred in three distinct depth zones: (1) a shallow (<60 m) community dominated by photosynthetic taxa, notably scleractinian corals, zooxanthellate octocorals and photosynthetic sponges; (2) a transitional community (60–75 m) comprising both zooxanthellate taxa and azooxanthellate taxa (notably gorgonians and antipatharians); and (3) an entirely azooxanthellate community (>75 m). The effects of depth and microhabitat topography on irradiance most likely play a critical role in controlling vertical zonation on reef substrates. The lower depth limits of zooxanthellate corals are significantly shallower than that observed in many other mesophotic coral ecosystems. This may be a result of resuspension of sediments from the sand sheets by strong currents and/or a consequence of cold water upwelling.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the captain and crew of the RV Southern Surveyor for their outstanding work on the cruise. The project was funded by the Australian Marine National Facility, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, the National Geographic Society, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Science for Management Awards and the School of Earth and Environmental Science, James Cook University. Robin Beaman acknowledges a Queensland Smart Futures Fellowship for salary support. We would like to thank Katharina Fabricius and Chris Battershill at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and Carden Wallace, Paul Muir and Patricia Sutcliffe at the Queensland Museum for assistance with the taxonomy. We also gratefully acknowledge Adella Edwards for her help with preparing the figures, and Ari Stypel, Alex Brazenor, Scott Hansen and Michael Kramer for their valuable assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    T. C. L. Bridge

  2. Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB #3, Townsville MC, QLD, 4810, Australia

    T. J. Done

  3. James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia

    R. J. Beaman

  4. Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    A. Friedman, S. B. Williams & O. Pizarro

  5. School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    J. M. Webster

Authors
  1. T. C. L. Bridge
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  2. T. J. Done
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  3. R. J. Beaman
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  4. A. Friedman
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  5. S. B. Williams
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  6. O. Pizarro
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  7. J. M. Webster
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. C. L. Bridge.

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Communicated by Environment Editor Prof. Rob van Woesik

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 3.

Table 3 Taxa included in taxon matrix collected during the study
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Bridge, T.C.L., Done, T.J., Beaman, R.J. et al. Topography, substratum and benthic macrofaunal relationships on a tropical mesophotic shelf margin, central Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Coral Reefs 30, 143–153 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-010-0677-3

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