A new threat to local marine biodiversity: filamentous mats proliferating at mesophotic depths off Rapa Nui

Author:

Sellanes Javier12,Gorny Matthias3,Zapata-Hernández Germán124,Alvarez Gonzalo56,Muñoz Praxedes1,Tala Fadia167

Affiliation:

1. Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Coquimbo, Chile

2. Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI), Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Coquimbo, Chile

3. Oceana, Santiago, Chile

4. Programa de Doctorado en Biología y Ecología Aplicada (BEA), Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Coquimbo, Chile

5. Departamento de Acuicultura, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Coquimbo, Chile

6. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Algas y otros Recursos Biológicos (CIDTA), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Coquimbo, Chile

7. Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología Costera (SECOS), Santiago, Chile

Abstract

Mesophotic and deeper habitats (∼40 to 350 m in depth) around Rapa Nui (Easter Island) were investigated using a remotely operated vehicle. We observed extensive fields of filamentous cyanobacteria-like mats covering sandy substrates and mostly dead mesophotic Leptoseris spp. reefs. These mats covered up to 100% of the seafloor off Hanga Roa, the main village on the island, located on its western side. The highest mortality of corals was observed at depths between 70 and 95 m in this area. Healthy Leptoseris reefs were documented off the northern and southeastern sides of the island, which are also the least populated. A preliminary morphologic analysis of samples of the mats indicated that the assemblage is composed of at least four filamentous taxa, including two cyanobacteria (cf. Lyngbya sp. and Pseudoanabaena sp.), a brown alga (Ectocarpus sp.), and a green alga (Cladophora sp.). An ongoing eutrophication process is suggested as a potential driver of the proliferation of these filamentous mats off Hanga Roa village.

Funder

FONDECYT

ANID- Millennium Science Initiative ESMOI

CONICYT-PCHA/ Doctorado Nacional

Beca de Postdoctorado MINEDUC

Oceana Chile

Publisher

PeerJ

Subject

General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Medicine,General Neuroscience

Reference58 articles.

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