Biomass mapping of fjordic cold-water coral reefs reveals distinct functional role of vertical wall habitat

Abstract

Fjords provide unique habitats for large cold-water coral (CWC) reefs, typically growing on sills and vertical walls. Fjord reefs are among the most thriving CWC reefs in Norway. Yet, these reefs, especially the wall reefs, are notoriously understudied. Here, we mapped the biomass, total carbon (C) stocks and C turnover (as respiration) of the reef-building coral Lophelia pertusa (syn. Desmophyllum pertusum), and dominant, large CWC reef-associated suspension feeders (the sponges Geodia barretti and Mycale lingua, the CWC Madrepora oculata and the bivalve Acesta excavata) within the Hardangerfjord, Norway. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) recorded videos from wall and sill reefs were used to estimate species-specific biomass. Coupled with high resolution terrain data (2 × 2 m), predictive maps of species biomass were produced using a random forest (RF) model. The resulting biomass data were integrated with species-specific C content and C respiration rates from literature to estimate C stocks and C turnover of wall versus sill reefs. Area-specific results from the RF models reveal that wall reefs had a higher habitat suitability for all species except L. pertusa, which was more dominant on the sills. Accordingly, the wall reefs supported an up to 11 times higher biomass, C stock, and turnover for all species, except for L. pertusa, which had two-fold higher values on the sill reef. As a result, the wall reefs showed a 1.5 to 4.8 times higher total mean C turnover by dominant suspension feeders (all studied species) compared to the sill reefs. With their high C turnover and their presumably wide distribution in Norwegian fjords and globally, benthic wall reef megafauna may have a substantial, but overlooked biomass and functional role within CWC reef systems.