Reefs formed by scleractinian cold-water corals represent unique biodiversity hot spots in the deep sea, preferring aphotic water depths of 200–1000 m. The distribution of the most prominent reef-building species Lophelia pertusa is controlled by various environmental factors including dissolved oxygen concentrations and temperature. Consequently, the expected ocean deoxygenation and warming triggered by human-induced global change are considered as a serious threat to cold-water coral reefs. Here, we present results on recently discovered reefs in the SE Atlantic, where L. pertusa thrives in hypoxic and rather warm waters. This sheds new light on its capability to adapt to extreme conditions, which is facilitated by high surface ocean productivity, resulting in extensive food supply. Putting our data in an Atlantic-wide perspective clearly demonstrates L. pertusa’s ability to develop population-specific adaptations, which are up to now hardly considered in assessing its present and future distributions.

中文翻译：

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缺氧条件下的冷水珊瑚礁茁壮成长

由硬化冷水珊瑚形成的珊瑚礁代表了深海中独特的生物多样性热点，喜欢 200-1000 m 的无光水深。最突出的造礁物种 Lophelia pertusa 的分布受各种环境因素的控制，包括溶解氧浓度和温度。因此，人类引起的全球变化引发的预期海洋脱氧和变暖被认为是对冷水珊瑚礁的严重威胁。在这里，我们展示了最近在东南大西洋发现的珊瑚礁的结果，在那里 L. pertusa 在缺氧和相当温暖的水域中茁壮成长。这为它适应极端条件的能力提供了新的线索，这得益于高表层海洋生产力，从而导致大量的食物供应。