Fine-Scale Heterogeneity of a Cold-Water Coral Reef and Its Influence on the Distribution of Associated Taxa

Benthic fauna form spatial patterns which are the result of both biotic and abiotic processes, can be quantified with a range landscape ecology descriptors. Fine- to medium-scale (<1–10 m) have seldom been in deep-sea habitats, but provide fundamental ecological insights into species’ niches interactions. Cold-water coral reefs formed by Desmophyllum pertusum (syn. Lophelia pertusa ) Madrepora oculata traditionally mapped surveyed multibeam echosounders video transects, limit ability achieve resolution and/or coverage undertake fine-scale, centimetric quantification patterns. However, photomosaics constructed from imagery collected remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) becoming prevalent research tool reveal novel information at scale individual colonies. A survey using downward facing camera mounted on ROV traversed Piddington Mound (Belgica Province, NE Atlantic) lawnmower pattern order create 3D reconstructions reef Structure-from-Motion techniques. Three high orthorectified digital elevation models (DEM) >200 m 2 were created all organisms geotagged illustrate their point pattern. The pair correlation function was used establish whether demonstrated clustered (CP) various scales. We further applied modelling approach identify four potential patterns: complete randomness (CSR), an inhomogeneous influenced environmental drivers, random indicating biologically driven clustering combination drivers biological effects. Reef framework presence structural complexity determined inhabitant distribution most showing departure CSR. These CPs likely caused affinity local growth restricted dispersion reproductive strategies within habitat across fine medium data detailed fine-scale heterogeneity, that non-random distributions apparent detectable these scales habitats.