Zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian Caribbean

Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) shelter unique communities. Coral zooxanthellae in these environments feature a low photosynthesis rate; therefore zooplankton becomes MCEs’ primary food source. These MCEs have not been studied enough due to the high cost of current assessment technologies, so the...

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Main Authors: Laura Contrera Vega, Alejandro Henao Castro, Gabriel R. Navas S
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 2021-09-01
Series:Universitas Scientiarum
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Online Access:https://revistas.javeriana.edu.co/index.php/scientarium/article/view/31418
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author Laura Contrera Vega
Alejandro Henao Castro
Gabriel R. Navas S
author_facet Laura Contrera Vega
Alejandro Henao Castro
Gabriel R. Navas S
author_sort Laura Contrera Vega
collection DOAJ
description Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) shelter unique communities. Coral zooxanthellae in these environments feature a low photosynthesis rate; therefore zooplankton becomes MCEs’ primary food source. These MCEs have not been studied enough due to the high cost of current assessment technologies, so these endeavours remain a challenge. The purpose of this work was to study the zooplankton community associated to the MCEs on seamount Bajo Frijol, within the Corales de Profundidad National Natural Park (off the Colombian Caribbean coast) and to compare its composition with that from shallower parts of the water column. Three samples were taken, filtering 24 L of seawater (via a mesh of size 45 μm) at each station with a device designed to collect zooplankton right on top of the reef substrate. Taxonomic composition, density and relative abundance were obtained. A resemblance analysis was performed, complemented with a cluster, an MDS and a modified Kandoorp test. The analysis showed clear differences between the water column samples from those taken close to the reef. It also showed the separation of the community into two large groups: north and center-south, both with unique species.
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spelling doaj-art-bd1849a1129a4eeda712bbfb01dc93c12025-08-20T03:05:02ZengPontificia Universidad JaverianaUniversitas Scientiarum0122-74832027-13522021-09-0126328130010.11144/Javeriana.SC26-3.zdiaZooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian CaribbeanLaura Contrera Vega0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4335-7387Alejandro Henao Castro1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4125-765XGabriel R. Navas S2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9554-6345University of Cartagena, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Biology Program, Descriptive and Applied Biology Research Group, Cra. 50 #24120, Cartagena, Colombia. 130014University of Cartagena, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Biology Program, Descriptive and Applied Biology Research Group, Cra. 50 #24120, Cartagena, Colombia. 130014University of Cartagena, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Biology Program, Hydrobiology Research Group, Cra. 50 #24120, Cartagena, Colombia. 130014Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) shelter unique communities. Coral zooxanthellae in these environments feature a low photosynthesis rate; therefore zooplankton becomes MCEs’ primary food source. These MCEs have not been studied enough due to the high cost of current assessment technologies, so these endeavours remain a challenge. The purpose of this work was to study the zooplankton community associated to the MCEs on seamount Bajo Frijol, within the Corales de Profundidad National Natural Park (off the Colombian Caribbean coast) and to compare its composition with that from shallower parts of the water column. Three samples were taken, filtering 24 L of seawater (via a mesh of size 45 μm) at each station with a device designed to collect zooplankton right on top of the reef substrate. Taxonomic composition, density and relative abundance were obtained. A resemblance analysis was performed, complemented with a cluster, an MDS and a modified Kandoorp test. The analysis showed clear differences between the water column samples from those taken close to the reef. It also showed the separation of the community into two large groups: north and center-south, both with unique species.https://revistas.javeriana.edu.co/index.php/scientarium/article/view/31418deep-sea corals;deep-sea protected areas;mesophotic corals;mesophotic ecosystems;zooplankton community;zooplankton distribution.
spellingShingle Laura Contrera Vega
Alejandro Henao Castro
Gabriel R. Navas S
Zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian Caribbean
Universitas Scientiarum
deep-sea corals;
deep-sea protected areas;
mesophotic corals;
mesophotic ecosystems;
zooplankton community;
zooplankton distribution.
title Zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian Caribbean
title_full Zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian Caribbean
title_fullStr Zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian Caribbean
title_full_unstemmed Zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian Caribbean
title_short Zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at Bajo Frijol seamount, Colombian Caribbean
title_sort zooplankton distribution in a mesophotic corals reef habitat at bajo frijol seamount colombian caribbean
topic deep-sea corals;
deep-sea protected areas;
mesophotic corals;
mesophotic ecosystems;
zooplankton community;
zooplankton distribution.
url https://revistas.javeriana.edu.co/index.php/scientarium/article/view/31418
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