The Pourtalès Terrace is an exposed hard-bottom platform located south of the Florida Keys in 200–450 m depth with a diverse deep-sea coral ecosystem dominated by stylasterid hydrocorals, octocorals, and sponges that supports recreational and commercial fisheries. Portions of the Terrace have been designated as managed areas in the absence of detailed habitat maps, which hampers identifying ecological benefits derived from such management actions. Here we report analyses of historic Terrace physiographic and geologic data with more recent high-resolution bathymetric and benthic data to statistically derive a benthic community characterization across the Terrace. Multivariate analyses of faunal density from 42 standardized sites showed spatially distinct communities: East Terrace, West Terrace, Upper Terrace Edge, Sinkholes and Lophelia Coral Mound (the southernmost record of this habitat in the continental U.S.). These corresponded to physiographic divisions into an Upper Terrace comprised of Central and Karst-like regions, and Lower Terrace. A detailed description of these communities is provided. This study presents new insights into the Terrace benthic community spatial arrangement and is a necessary step towards facilitating benthic mapping. Our recommendations highlight the information needed for benthic habitat map creation and collecting data to determine if current conservation boundaries match management goals.

PourtalèsTerrace是一个裸露的硬底平台，位于佛罗里达礁岛以南200-450 m的深度，拥有一个多样的深海珊瑚生态系统，主要由针叶甾类水珊瑚，八角珊瑚和海绵组成，为休闲和商业性渔业提供支持。在没有详细的栖息地地图的情况下，梯田的部分地区已被指定为管理区域，这妨碍了从这种管理行动中识别出生态效益。在这里，我们报告对历史性梯田的地貌和地质数据进行分析，并使用更高分辨率的测深和底栖数据，以统计方式得出整个梯田的底栖动物群落特征。来自42个标准化地点的动物密度的多变量分析显示了空间上不同的群落：东阶，西阶，上阶边缘，污水坑和Lophelia珊瑚丘（该栖息地在美国大陆最南端的记录）。这些对应于生理上的划分，分为由中部和喀斯特样地区组成的上层台地和下层台地。提供了这些社区的详细说明。这项研究提出了对梯田底栖生物群落空间安排的新见解，并且是促进底栖动物作图的必要步骤。我们的建议重点介绍了底栖生境图创建和收集数据以确定当前保护区边界是否符合管理目标所需的信息。