Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are characterized by the presence of photosynthetically active organisms such as corals and algae, and associated communities at depths ranging from 30 to 150 m in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to the increased awareness of the potential importance of these reefs as an integral part of coral reef ecosystems (i.e., deep reef refuge, specialized biodiversity, transition zone between shallow and deep-sea environments, and recreational and intrinsic values), interest from the scientific community has grown around the world over the last two decades. Several nations have already made management declarations and started to extend marine protected areas and fishery management to MCEs. The estimated area of Australian MCEs is likely equivalent to that of shallow reef ecosystems down to 30 m; however, Australian MCEs attract limited research effort compared to other major coral reef regions around the world. In this perspective, we briefly explore the reasons for this scarcity of research on mesophotic ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) of Australia (e.g., strict diving regulations, new researchers’ involvement, and logistics and cost). At present, research efforts on the mesophotic ecosystems of the GBR are in decline and if this trajectory is maintained, the global disparity in knowledge between MCEs near Australia and those from the other main coral reef regions worldwide will sharpen deeply. We call for action from the research community, grant agencies, and decision-makers toward a wider understanding of these important ecosystems in Australia.

中生珊瑚生态系统（MCE）的特征是存在光合作用的生物，例如珊瑚和藻类，以及热带和亚热带地区30至150 m深度的相关群落。由于人们越来越意识到这些珊瑚礁作为珊瑚礁生态系统不可或缺的一部分的潜在重要性（即，深海珊瑚礁避难所，专门的生物多样性，浅海和深海环境之间的过渡带以及娱乐和内在价值），因此人们对珊瑚礁产生了兴趣。在过去的二十年中，科学界在全球范围内不断发展。几个国家已经发表了管理宣言，并开始将海洋保护区和渔业管理扩展到MCE。澳大利亚MCE的估计面积可能相当于30m以下的浅礁生态系统。然而，与世界其他主要珊瑚礁地区相比，澳大利亚的MCE吸引的研究工作有限。从这个角度出发，我们简要探讨了对澳大利亚大堡礁（GBR）的中生生态系统研究缺乏的原因（例如，严格的潜水规定，新研究人员的参与以及后勤和成本）。目前，对GBR的中性生态系统的研究工作正在减少，如果保持这种轨迹，澳大利亚附近的MCE与全球其他主要珊瑚礁地区的MCE之间的全球知识差异将进一步加剧。我们呼吁研究界，赠款机构和决策者采取行动，以更广泛地了解澳大利亚的这些重要生态系统。