The Diversity and Ecological Role of Non-scleractinian Corals (Antipatharia and Alcyonacea) on Scleractinian Cold-Water Coral Mounds

Veerle A I Huvenne,Laurence Helene De Clippele,J Murray Roberts,Tina N Molodtsova

doi:10.3389/fmars.2019.00184

Abstract

Cold-water coral carbonate mounds, created by framework-building scleractinian corals, are also important habitats for non-scleractinian corals, whose ecology and role are understudied in deep-sea environments. This paper describes the diversity, ecology and role of non-scleractinian corals on scleractinian cold-water coral carbonate mounds in the Logachev Mound Province, Rockall Bank, NE Atlantic. In total ten non-scleractinian species were identified, which were mapped out along eight ROV video transects. Eight species were identified as black corals (three belonging to the family Schizopathidae, one each to the Leiopathidae, Cladopathidae, and Antipathidae and two to an unknown family) and two as gorgonians (Isididae and Plexauridae). The most abundant species were Leiopathes sp. and Parantipathes sp. 2. Areas with a high diversity of non-scleractinian corals are interpreted to offer sufficient food, weak inter-species competition and the presence of heterogeneous and hard settlement substrates. A difference in the density and occurrence of small vs. large colonies of Leiopathes sp. was also observed, which is likely related to a difference in the stability of the substrate they choose for settlement. Non-scleractinian corals, especially black corals, are an important habitat for crabs, crinoids, and shrimps in the Logachev Mound Province. The carrier crab Paromola sp. was observed carrying the plexaurid Paramuricea sp. and a black coral species belonging to the genus Parantipathes, a behavior believed to provide the crab with camouflage or potentially a defense mechanism against predators. More information on the ecophysiology of non-scleractinian corals and fine-scale local organic matter supply are needed to understand what drives differences in their spatial distribution and community structure.

Highlights

Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, the dominant reefforming scleractinian corals in the deep sea, have been widely studied over the last 20 years
Due to the high biodiversity and the numerous symbiotic associates they have, non-scleractinian corals should not be overlooked (e.g., BuhlMortensen and Mortensen, 2005; Etnoyer and Morgan, 2005; Tazioli et al, 2007; Cerrano et al, 2010; Wagner et al, 2012; Corbera Pascual, 2015; Cúrdia et al, 2015; De Clippele et al, 2015). This is because non-scleractinian corals are known to be an important habitat for a diverse range of organisms providing, e.g., a feeding platform, a place to shelter or a substrate for fish to lay their eggs on (Buhl-Mortensen and Mortensen, 2004; Le Guilloux et al, 2010; Wagner et al, 2012; De Clippele et al, 2015)
The goal of this study is to provide more information on these non-scleractinian corals to ensure that better-informed decisions can be made to protect these longlived organisms

Summary

Introduction

Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, the dominant reefforming scleractinian corals in the deep sea, have been widely studied over the last 20 years. Due to the high biodiversity and the numerous symbiotic associates they have, non-scleractinian corals should not be overlooked (e.g., BuhlMortensen and Mortensen, 2005; Etnoyer and Morgan, 2005; Tazioli et al, 2007; Cerrano et al, 2010; Wagner et al, 2012; Corbera Pascual, 2015; Cúrdia et al, 2015; De Clippele et al, 2015). A Leiopathes annosa (Wagner and Opresko, 2015), colony from Hawaiian (United States) waters was estimated to be 4,265 years old with radial growth rates between 0.005 and 0.022 mm yr−1 (Roark et al, 2009; Sherwood and Edinger, 2009)

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