Connectivity between shallow and deep reef communities around Bermuda

Benthic megafauna significantly differ depending on depth. From data collected in Bermudian waters using submersibles and technical divers, we explore these relationships for the first time across depths of 15 m to 300 m. Here... [ view full abstract ]

Benthic megafauna significantly differ depending on depth. From data collected in Bermudian waters using submersibles and technical divers, we explore these relationships for the first time across depths of 15 m to 300 m. Here we present the faunal communities and show that there are distinct assemblages at each depth with substantial species turnover. Typically, faunal changes occur across wider depth zones, but we reveal this is not the case and the differential is much greater, even in areas that are exposed to a high degree of human activities. The assemblages we describe include species that are abundant but new to science and others that are endemic to Bermuda, thus revealing these assemblages are novel. This benthic megafauna heterogeneity includes habitat-forming organisms, has potential implications for the ‘deep reef refugia’ hypothesis and is an important consideration for spatial planning and ocean management.