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Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 444:97-115 (2012)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09430

Spatial and tidal variation in food supply to shallow cold-water coral reefs of the Mingulay Reef complex (Outer Hebrides, Scotland)

Gerard C.A. Duineveld1,*, Rachel M. Jeffreys1,2, Marc S.S. Lavaleye1, Andrew J. Davies3, Magda J.N. Bergman1, Thalia Watmough1, Rob Witbaard1

1Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands
2School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, 4 Brownlow Street, Liverpool, L69 3GP, UK
3School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK

ABSTRACT: The finding of a previously undescribed cold-water coral reef (Banana Reef) in the Scottish Mingulay reef complex, with denser coverage of living Lophelia pertusa than the principal Mingulay 1 Reef, was the incentive for a comparative study of the food supply to the 2 reefs. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples from the surface and bottom water covering a tidal cycle were compared with respect to lipids, pigments, and δ13C and δ15N. Lipid profiles and stable isotope signatures of SPM were compared with those of coral tissue samples. Concurrently, hydrographic measurements were conducted to track the movement of the water masses across both reefs. Between-reef differences in SPM lipid concentrations were small compared to those in coral tissue. Corals at Banana Reef had lower lipid concentrations, pointing to less favourable food conditions than at Mingulay 1. Stable isotopes signatures and lipid profiles showed that corals on both reefs feed primarily on surface algal matter, within the timeframe of our study. At Mingulay 1, fresh microalgae are supplied to the coral reef by local downwelling. This downwelling pulse is tidally advected to Banana Reef. Food conditions observed during this study at both reefs do not explain the between-reef difference in coral coverage. A speculative explanation for the denser coral coverage at the deeper Banana Reef encompasses the slightly lower temperature that exhibits lower metabolic stress on corals, in combination with a higher current speed and particle encounter rate.


KEY WORDS: Lophelia pertusa · Cold-water corals · Suspended particulate organic matter · Food supply · Internal wave · Downwelling


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Cite this article as: Duineveld GCA, Jeffreys RM, Lavaleye MSS, Davies AJ, Bergman MJN, Watmough T, Witbaard R (2012) Spatial and tidal variation in food supply to shallow cold-water coral reefs of the Mingulay Reef complex (Outer Hebrides, Scotland). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 444:97-115. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09430

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