Deep-Sea Corals on Seamounts

Abstract

Deep-sea corals are colonial suspension-feeding cnidarians commonly associated with seamounts around the world. They are important components of seamount ecology, providing food and refuge for numerous associated species of fish, crabs, shrimp, and sea stars at depths where few other habitat formers live (50–6000 m). Deep-sea corals are a rich assemblage in their own right, a paraphyletic taxonomic group (derived from several ancestors) of more than 3300 species of azooxanthellate stony corals (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Octocorallia) (Cairns, 2007).

Keywords

• deep-sea corals
• seamounts
• seamount ecology