ArticleBiology letters2024
Recent trends and biases in mesophotic ecosystem research.
Article in Biology letters, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Refugia, but Not for Everyone: Genetic Structure Differentiates Shallow and Mesophotic Populations of the Brooder Sponge Ircinia variabilis.Molecular ecology · 2026Article
- Depth is a strong driver of functional diversity in Caribbean reef-fish communities.Oecologia · 2026Article
- Predicting the Distribution of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago.Ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Recent trends and biases in mesophotic ecosystem research.Biology letters · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
19 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Mesophotic ecosystems (approx. 30-150 m) represent a significant proportion of the world's oceans yet have long remained understudied due to challenges in accessing these deeper depths. Owing to advances in underwater technologies and a growing scientific and management interest, there has been a major expansion in research of both (sub)tropical mesophotic coral ecosystems and temperate mesophotic ecosystems. Here, we characterize the recent global trends in mesophotic research through an updated release of the 'mesophotic.org' database (www.mesophotic.org) where we reviewed and catalogued 1500 scientific publications. In doing so, we shed light on four major research biases: a gross imbalance in (a) the geographical spread of research efforts, differences in (b) the focal depth range and (c) research fields associated with study organisms and research platforms, and (d) the lack of temporal studies. Overall, we are optimistic about the future of mesophotic research and hope that by highlighting current trends and imbalances, we can raise awareness and stimulate discussion on the future directions of this emerging field.
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Registered trials
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