Deep water corals

• What are deep water coral reefs also called?

  Cold water coral reefs
• Why do deep water coral reefs grow more slowly than tropical coral reefs?

  They lack symbiotic photosynthetic algae
• How does the recovery rate of deep water coral reefs compare to tropical coral reefs?

  Deep water reefs recover much more slowly
• What is the significance of the discovery of deep water coral reefs?

  • Discovered since the 1970s
  • Many found since 2010
  • Limited research on their importance
• What types of fish are often supported by deep water coral reefs?

  Slow-growing species with low reproductive rates
• When was the Orange Roughy first exploited on a large scale?

  1980
• What happened to the global catch of Orange Roughy by 1996?

  It was declining due to over-exploitation
• What are the consequences of deep water trawling on fish populations?

  It has over-exploited populations and killed by-catch
• Why is the slow rate of coral growth a concern for deep water reefs?

  It takes hundreds of years to repair damage
• What future threat is posed by oil and gas exploration?


  It may damage deep water coral reefs
• How does increased carbon dioxide affect deep water corals?

  It causes ocean acidification, threatening survival
• What conservation efforts have been made for deep water coral reefs?

  • Protected areas established
  • Examples: Darwin Mounds SAC, Oculina Bank
  • Aim to stop damaging activities like trawling
• What are the ecological features of deep water coral reefs?

  • Lack of symbiotic photosynthetic algae
  • Much less food energy available
  • Slow growth compared to tropical reefs