Mission Statement

Deep Coral Ecosystem Studies (Deep-CRES) consists of a multi-disciplinary team to study the biology and ecology of mesophotic reefs off La Parguera, PR. Research is driven by three objectives: (1) characterization of the mesophotic coral ecosystem (MCEs); (2) connectivity between shallow and mesophotic environments; and (3) vulnerability to anthropogenic stressors.

Deep CRES utilizes the resources of the Caribbean Coral Reef Institute (CCRI) for program administration, webpage support and dissemination of results to pertinent management agencies. This work is funded by the NOAA’s Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR).

Goals & Objectives

CCRI scientists are studying MCEs primarily through the use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and mixed gas rebreather technologies off southern Puerto Rico to:

1. Characterize distribution, composition, & factors determining structure
2. Determine extent & direction of connectivity linking deep & shallow reefs
3. Assess the vulnerability of deep reefs to anthropogenic stress

Mesophotic cruises blogs

References & more

• Garcia-Sais J.R. (2010) Reef habitats and associated sessile-benthic and fish assemblages across a euphotic–mesophotic depth gradient in Isla Desecheo, Puerto Rico. Coral Reefs 29, 277–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-009-0582-9
• Jarrett et al. (2005) Strange bedfellows—a deep-water hermatypic coral reef superimposed on a drowned barrier island; southern Pulley Ridge, SW Florida platform margin. Marine Geology 214(4): 295-307
• Kahng S.E., Garcia-Sais J.R., Spalding H.L. et al. (2010) Community ecology of mesophotic coral reef ecosystems. Coral Reefs 29: 255–275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-010-0593-6
• Locker S.D., Armstrong R.A., Battista T.A. et al. (2010) Geomorphology of mesophotic coral ecosystems: current perspectives on morphology, distribution, and mapping strategies. Coral Reefs 29: 329–345
• Sherman C., Nemeth M., Ruíz H. et al. (2010) Geomorphology and benthic cover of mesophotic coral ecosystems of the upper insular slope of southwest Puerto Rico. Coral Reefs 29, 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-010-0607-4