Ecosystem Services of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems and a Call for Better Accounting

Abstract

Accounting of the goods and services provided by ecosystems to human communities provides a basis for informed sustainable development, policy, and conservation decision-making. Coral reefs provide a myriad of such goods and services to coastal communities through direct provisioning (e.g., calories and natural products), environmental supporting and regulating services (e.g., nutrient or trophic cycling and stock support), and cultural products (e.g., tourism and culturally important ecosystems). Mid-depth coral communities (30–150 m), or mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs), are not generally addressed in ecosystem services accounting for coral reefs; however, they may share many of the services associated with shallow coral reefs, as well as provide unique ecosystem services of their own. The growing understanding that MCEs occupy large areas of previously uncharacterized insular and continental shelves suggests coral reef valuations need to account for these ecosystems. As shallower resources continue to decline due to anthropogenic pressures, it is crucial that we understand how MCEs support coastal ecosystems and human communities. Here, we explore the development of an ecosystem services framework for MCEs in the context of those provided by shallow coral reefs and present a baseline for further development as new data and information about MCEs become available. We recommend future research properly account for and valuate MCE ecosystem services, both individually and as they relate to ecosystem services for shallow-water reefs.