Abstract
Mesophotic coral reefs are ecosystems found below 30 m and down to 150 m depth. Even though interest in these ecosystems has increased in recent years, several aspects still need further attention, including symbiotic associations. During survey of the upper mesophotic reefs in Faafu Atoll, Republic of Maldives, we observed a stable, and likely mutualistic, association between the octocoral Bebryce cf grandicalyx, a sponge belonging to the family Suberitidae, and the hydrozoan Zanclea timida. Additionally, several other organisms were found dwelling on the octocoral and sponge surface, including amphipods, barnacles, entoprocts, flatworms, brittle stars, and foraminiferans. These photographs illustrate the article “A mesophotic hotel: the octocoral Bebryce cf grandicalyx as a host” by D. Maggioni, S. Montano, O. Voigt, D. Seveso and P. Galli published in Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2950
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