Recent trends and biases in mesophotic ecosystem research

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Radice, Veronica Z. and Hernández-Agreda, Alejandra and Pérez-Rosales, Gonzalo and Booker, Ryan and Bellworthy, Jessica and Broadribb, Manon and Carpenter, Gaby E. and Diaz, Clara and Eckert, Ryan J. and Foster, Nicola L. and Gijsbers, Johanna C. and Gress, Erika and Laverick, Jack H. and Micaroni, Valerio and Pierotti, Miriam and Rouzé, Héloïse and Stevenson, Angela and Sturm, Alexis B. and Bongaerts, Pim (2024) Recent trends and biases in mesophotic ecosystem research. Biology Letters, 20 (12). ISSN 1744-9561 (https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2024.0465)

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Abstract

Mesophotic ecosystems (approx. 30–150 m) represent a significant proportion of the world’s oceans yet have long remained understudied due to challenges in accessing these deeper depths. Owing to advances in underwater technologies and a growing scientific and management interest, there has been a major expansion in research of both (sub)tropical mesophotic coral ecosystems and temperate mesophotic ecosystems. Here, we characterize the recent global trends in mesophotic research through an updated release of the ‘mesophotic.org’ database (www.mesophotic.org) where we reviewed and catalogued 1500 scientific publications. In doing so, we shed light on four major research biases: a gross imbalance in (a) the geographical spread of research efforts, differences in (b) the focal depth range and (c) research fields associated with study organisms and research platforms, and (d) the lack of temporal studies. Overall, we are optimistic about the future of mesophotic research and hope that by highlighting current trends and imbalances, we can raise awareness and stimulate discussion on the future directions of this emerging field.

ORCID iDs

Radice, Veronica Z., Hernández-Agreda, Alejandra, Pérez-Rosales, Gonzalo, Booker, Ryan, Bellworthy, Jessica, Broadribb, Manon, Carpenter, Gaby E., Diaz, Clara, Eckert, Ryan J., Foster, Nicola L., Gijsbers, Johanna C., Gress, Erika, Laverick, Jack H. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8829-2084, Micaroni, Valerio, Pierotti, Miriam, Rouzé, Héloïse, Stevenson, Angela, Sturm, Alexis B. and Bongaerts, Pim;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)