Abstract
Factors shaping the distribution of mesophotic octocorals (30–200 m depth) remain poorly understood, potentially leaving overlooked coral areas, particularly near their bathymetric and geographic distributional limits. Yet, detailed knowledge about habitat requirements is crucial for conservation of sensitive gorgonians. Here we use Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) relating thirteen environmental predictors and a highly comprehensive presence dataset, enhanced by SCUBA diving surveys, to investigate the suitable habitat of an important structuring species, Paramuricea clavata, throughout its distribution (Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic). Models showed that temperature (11.5–25.5 °C) and slope are the most important predictors carving the niche of P. clavata. Prediction throughout the full distribution (TSS 0.9) included known locations of P. clavata alongside with previously unknown or unreported sites along the coast of Portugal and Africa, including seamounts. These predictions increase the understanding of the potential distribution for the northern Mediterranean and indicate suitable hard bottom areas down to >150 m depth. Poorly sampled habitats with predicted presence along Algeria, Alboran Sea and adjacent Atlantic coasts encourage further investigation. We propose that surveys of target areas from the predicted distribution map, together with local expert knowledge, may lead to discoveries of new P. clavata sites and identify priority conservation areas.
Highlights
Factors shaping the distribution of mesophotic octocorals (30–200 m depth) remain poorly understood, potentially leaving overlooked coral areas, near their bathymetric and geographic distributional limits
The distribution of a species like P. clavata may depend on a combination of biotic and abiotic factors, but the predicted areas of suitable habitat will likely be dependent on the availability, resolution and extent of the data used for modelling[16]
The environmental predictors produced for Ecological Niche Modelling correlated well with quality-controlled data, reflecting most of the patterns observed in the bottled data (Supplementary Table S1)
Summary
Factors shaping the distribution of mesophotic octocorals (30–200 m depth) remain poorly understood, potentially leaving overlooked coral areas, near their bathymetric and geographic distributional limits. We use Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM) relating thirteen environmental predictors and a highly comprehensive presence dataset, enhanced by SCUBA diving surveys, to investigate the suitable habitat of an important structuring species, Paramuricea clavata, throughout its distribution (Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic). Occurrence data and thirteen environmental variables were used to predict the suitable habitat for P. clavata, with Boosted Regression Trees, along its full distribution and to determine if predicted physiological limits are coincident with those reported in the literature This includes spatially representing for the first time an estimate of the suitable habitat for this vulnerable octocoral, from the eastern Mediterranean to the eastern Atlantic coasts, and providing the species physiological limits estimated by the model
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