Association between the squat lobsterGastroptychus formosusand cold-water corals in the North Atlantic

Abstract

Although there are no previous descriptions of the habits of chirostylids in the North Atlantic, it is likely that species in the generaUroptychus,EumunidaandGastroptychushave close ecological ties with deep-sea corals since they have all been recorded in trawl samples containing corals from >200 m depth. We analysedin situdistribution ofGastroptychus formosusand potential hosts using a ROV at a range of north-eastern Atlantic sites and found that this species forms a close association with deep-sea corals that resembles the chirostylid–anthozoan associations reported in shallow Indo-Pacific waters. We update the known distribution forG. formosus, confirming that it is an amphiatlantic species that occurs along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at least as far south as the Azores and along continental margins from the Canary Islands to Scotland at depths of 600–1700 m. The adults have very specific habitat preferences, being only found on gorgonian and antipatharian corals with a strong preference forLeiopathessp. as a host. This highly restricted habitat preference is likely to render chirostylids vulnerable to the impacts of demersal fishing both directly, as by-catch, and indirectly through habitat loss.