Tidal Dynamics Control on Cold-Water Coral Growth: A High-Resolution Multivariable Study on Eastern Atlantic Cold-Water Coral Sites

Tidal Dynamics Control on Cold-Water Coral Growth: A High-Resolution Multivariable Study on Eastern Atlantic Cold-Water Coral Sites

Cold-water coral communities form complex benthic ecosystems in a distinct part of the water column. The exact processes supporting reef growth and changes with time are still partly unsolved. Recent studies have suggested a tidally driven hydraulic control of flow over topographic features as a dri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in Marine Science Vol. 7
Main Authors: Juva, Katriina, Flögel, Sascha, Karstensen, Johannes, Linke, Peter, Dullo, Wolf-Christian
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Lausanne Frontiers Research Foundation 19-03-2020
Frontiers Media S.A
Subjects:
Benthos
Biogeochemistry
cold-water corals
Control theory
coral growth
Coral reefs
Corals
Desmophyllum pertusum
Downwelling
Environmental changes
Fluid mechanics
Food
food availability
Food supply
Growth
Hydraulics
Hydrodynamics
Hydrography
Laboratories
Morphology
Physiographic features
Resuspension
Stratification
Tidal cycles
Tidal dynamics
Topography
Water column
Water quality
Water temperature
Angola
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Summary:Cold-water coral communities form complex benthic ecosystems in a distinct part of the water column. The exact processes supporting reef growth and changes with time are still partly unsolved. Recent studies have suggested a tidally driven hydraulic control of flow over topographic features as a driver for local downwelling at cold-water coral sites. This mechanism forms a link between surface and coral growth depths and is a driver of resuspension of the bottom material. Only few studies have concentrated on how these processes vary with the health status and structure of the cold-water coral occurrences. In this study, we explore the processes over tidal cycles by analysing in situ stratification, hydrography and velocity data which we then combine with local topography from seven Lophelia pertusa dominated eastern Atlantic cold-water coral sites. The “quality” of coral sites varies from thriving reefs to declining and dead coral sites. We show that living and healthy corals are concentrated at sites, where local hydrodynamics create overturning and mixing which support food supply for filter-feeding corals.
ISSN:2296-7745
2296-7745
DOI:10.3389/fmars.2020.00132