Mesophotic coral ecosystems are present in tropical and subtropical areas at depths starting from nearly 100 ft to over 490 ft under the ocean’s floor. The dominant communities offering structural habitat within the mesophotic zone are corals, sponges, and algae.

Little is understood or understood about these ecosystems as a result of till lately, research have been hampered by lack of know-how. The higher restrict of mesophotic coral ecosystems coincides with the diving restrict for standard scuba diving (130 ft), however is just too shallow and expensive for many deep-diving applied sciences, such as remotely operated autos and submersibles, to function in. Nonetheless, advances in undersea applied sciences up to now decade now make it doable to analyze these ecosystems.

In an period of serious modifications occurring on shallow coral reefs, it’s important for scientists to grasp the function of mesophotic coral ecosystems in tropical and subtropical areas. These ecosystems are considered extensions of shallow coral ecosystems and share widespread species. Because of this, scientists hypothesize that mesophotic corals could function potential sources to reseed or replenish degraded shallow-water reef species.

Mesophotic coral ecosystems additionally function important fish habitat for some economically and ecologically vital fish species, which use these areas for spawning, breeding, feeding, and development to maturity. Much like shallower coral ecosystems, mesophotic coral ecosystems comprise organisms with specialised defenses to chase away predators and microbial infections. These specialised defenses typically yield compounds that can be utilized to develop pure merchandise that profit human well being.