1. The characterization of benthic communities at the Burdwood Bank slope (≥200 m depth) is provided, comprising data from the marine protected area (MPA) Namuncurá II (created in December 2018), as well as from some deep bathyal surrounding areas in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. This information was acquired during two research cruises with RV Puerto Deseado (Argentina) during 2016 and 2017.
2. Marine animal forests were detected in the study area: coral gardens, mainly composed of alcyonaceans, were detected in the south and west of Burdwood Bank (MPA Namuncurá II) and neighbouring areas, whereas pennatulacean aggregations were detected in the north‐west of the plateau. The three‐dimensional structures of live but also dead corals provide substrate and refuge to many associated species. Benthic communities dominated by sponges were also recorded between 200 and 300 m in depth.
3. Six sites that meet the characteristics of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are reported.
4. Conservation strategies applied to scarcely known austral Argentinean waters led to the establishment of a pioneer MPA (Namuncurá I). Following the management plan that aimed to establish the biodiversity of Namuncurá I and neighbouring areas, the area of protection has now been enlarged to include the southern slope of the bank (currently Namuncurá II), where marine animal forests were detected, at depths below 200 m. The data presented here provide empirical evidence to support the conservation value of the region.

中文翻译：

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西南大西洋的底栖生物群落：Burdwood岸坡的动物森林保护价值

1. 提供了Burdwood Bank斜坡（≥200 m深度）的底栖生物群落的特征，包括来自海洋保护区（MPA）NamuncuráII（于2018年12月创建）以及西南部一些深水浴区的数据大西洋。该信息是在2016年和2017年与RV Puerto Deseado（阿根廷）进行的两次研究航行中获得的。
2. 在研究区域中发现了海洋动物森林：在Burdwood Bank（MPANamuncuráII）的南部和西部以及附近地区发现了主要由臭lc科组成的珊瑚花园，而在高原西北部发现了戊四叠纪的聚集体。活珊瑚以及死珊瑚的三维结构为许多相关物种提供了庇护所和庇护所。还记录了以海绵为主的底栖生物群落深度在200至300 m之间。
3. 报告了六个符合脆弱海洋生态系统特征的地点。
4. 由于对几乎不为人知的阿根廷南方水域采用了保护策略，因此建立了先锋MPA（NamuncuráI）。继旨在建立NamuncuráI及其附近地区生物多样性的管理计划之后，保护区域现已扩大到包括该岸的南坡（现为NamuncuráII），在200深度以下发现了海洋动物森林米 这里提供的数据提供了支持该地区保护价值的经验证据。