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First mesophotic Ecklonia radiata (Laminariales) records within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park marine-protected area, east coast, South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2023

Welly Qwabe ,
Toufiek Samaai Open the ORCID record for Toufiek Samaai [Opens in a new window] ,
Jean M. Harris Open the ORCID record for Jean M. Harris [Opens in a new window] ,
Ryan M. Palmer Open the ORCID record for Ryan M. Palmer [Opens in a new window]  and
Sven E. Kerwath Open the ORCID record for Sven E. Kerwath [Opens in a new window]
Welly Qwabe
Affiliation:
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Scientific Services, Montrose, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa Wildlands Conservation Trust, Mayors Walk 3208, South Africa
Toufiek Samaai*
Affiliation:
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Oceans and Coasts Branch, Cape Town 8001, South Africa Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
Jean M. Harris
Affiliation:
Wildlands Conservation Trust, Mayors Walk 3208, South Africa
Ryan M. Palmer
Affiliation:
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda 6140, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Sven E. Kerwath
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries Branch, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
*
Corresponding author: Toufiek Samaai; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

A dense Ecklonia radiata (Laminariales) kelp forest extending at least 35 km has been found between 45 and 60 m depth range within the mesophotic zone inside the iSimangaliso marine-protected area (MPA) at the iSimangaliso Wetland park World Heritage Site on the east coast of South Africa. This is the first visual confirmation of the occurrence of E. radiata beds in subtropical South Africa, in an area situated between the tropical and subtropical bioregions, in an area that spans the Natal and Delagoa bioregions of the south-western Indian Ocean, more than 350 km north of its previously documented South African range. The kelp was found to be present across the length of the MPA, but dense beds were present only in the southern Natal bioregion, with sparse occurrences observed elsewhere on soft-coral and sponge-dominated reefs in the upper mesophotic zone. The footage was collected in November 2020, May 2021 and November 2022 during remotely operated vehicle and drop camera surveys of the mesophotic zone inside the MPA. This discovery adds to the body of knowledge on the global distribution of Laminariales populations in deep tropical and subtropical settings and the diversity of habitats within South Africa's largest coastal MPA.

Keywords

drop cameraEcklonia radiataiSimangaliso Wetland Park MPAmesophotic coral ecosystemsmesophotic reef kelpremotely operated vehicle
Type
Marine Record
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 103 , 2023 , e91
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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