Ecohydrodynamics of cold-water coral reefs: a case study of the Mingulay Reef Complex (western Scotland)

PLoS One. 2014 May 29;9(5):e98218. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098218. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Ecohydrodynamics investigates the hydrodynamic constraints on ecosystems across different temporal and spatial scales. Ecohydrodynamics play a pivotal role in the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems, however the lack of integrated complex flow models for deep-water ecosystems beyond the coastal zone prevents further synthesis in these settings. We present a hydrodynamic model for one of Earth's most biologically diverse deep-water ecosystems, cold-water coral reefs. The Mingulay Reef Complex (western Scotland) is an inshore seascape of cold-water coral reefs formed by the scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa. We applied single-image edge detection and composite front maps using satellite remote sensing, to detect oceanographic fronts and peaks of chlorophyll a values that likely affect food supply to corals and other suspension-feeding fauna. We also present a high resolution 3D ocean model to incorporate salient aspects of the regional and local oceanography. Model validation using in situ current speed, direction and sea elevation data confirmed the model's realistic representation of spatial and temporal aspects of circulation at the reef complex including a tidally driven current regime, eddies, and downwelling phenomena. This novel combination of 3D hydrodynamic modelling and remote sensing in deep-water ecosystems improves our understanding of the temporal and spatial scales of ecological processes occurring in marine systems. The modelled information has been integrated into a 3D GIS, providing a user interface for visualization and interrogation of results that allows wider ecological application of the model and that can provide valuable input for marine biodiversity and conservation applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Biodiversity
  • Cold Temperature*
  • Coral Reefs*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Remote Sensing Technology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Scotland
  • Seawater*

Grants and funding

This paper is a contribution towards the European Commission FP7 projects HERMIONE (grant 226354) and EPOCA (grant 211384) and the UK Ocean Acidification programme (NERC grant NE/H017305/1). JMN and JMR acknowledge support from Heriot-Watt University's Environment & Climate Change theme and Javier Campuzano from the Technical University of Lisbon. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.