Networking Friday: Ecological patterns and biodiversity of black coral and gorgonian communities across depth gradients in Santo Antão, Cabo Verde
Black coral and gorgonian assemblages are vital components of marine ecosystems, providing structurally complex habitats that support high biodiversity. Despite their ecological significance, these communities, particularly mesophotic black coral forests (BCFs), remain poorly explored in the tropical Atlantic, including the Cabo Verde Archipelago, a region of notable ecological value and endemism. This study presents the first systematic assessment of black coral, gorgonian, and BCF-associated benthic and fish assemblages around Santo Antão island, characterising their distribution, community structure, functional traits, and spatial variability through in situ surveys and image-based analyses.
These findings offer the first comprehensive baseline of shallow to mesophotic black coral, gorgonian, and BCF-associated biodiversity in Cabo Verde. They highlight the ecological importance and vulnerability of these habitats and underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies, including marine protected areas, regulatory measures, and community-based initiatives, to safeguard these critical ecosystems.
Speakers
Teresa Paula Fernandes Amaro
CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro
Dr Teresa Amaro is a deep-sea ecologist with a broad interest in understanding trophic ecology across diverse deep-sea ecosystems, including submarine canyons, abyssal plains, and seamounts in contrasting ocean basins such as the Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, and Antarctic. Her work focuses on exploring how the biological processes of the oceans contribute to global climate change. Specifically, she aims to study global biogeochemical cycles to better understand the potential consequences for deep-sea biota if projected shifts in primary producers occur as a result of climate change.
She has also been involved in collaborative projects investigating the effects of suspended and resettled sediment plumes on organic matter remineralisation by megafauna. Her research employs diverse methods such as in situ experiments, moored instrumentation, sediment coring, and seafloor imagery.
She currently leads a project in Cabo Verde aimed at understanding the status and functioning of the ocean system around Santo Antão Island. The project seeks to provide effective management recommendations for sustainable development and to develop mitigation plans for the impacts of global change, in alignment with the needs of stakeholders and local communities.
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