Education Theme: Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

1. Home
2. Education
3. Education Themes
4. Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems

Found between the more familiar shallow water coral habitat and the deep ocean is a relatively unknown and poorly understood depth realm referred to as the mesophotic zone – "meso" for middle and "photic" for light. Mesophotic coral ecosystems are characterized by the presence of light-dependent corals and associated communities typically found at depths ranging from 30-40 meters (98-131 feet) and extending to over 100 meters (328 feet) in the Gulf of Mexico.

Choose from the sections below to further explore ocean exploration education resources on mesophotic coral ecosystems.