United States - July 08, 2025 New video footage has revealed the mesophotic coral ecosystems located on the West Florida Shelf, offering a rare glimpse of these deep marine habitats. Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has received a $999,664 grant from the Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program to lead a three-year study of these ecosystems. Mesophotic coral ecosystems, found at depths between 30 and 150 meters, support diverse marine life and vital fisheries but are not well understood. Unlike shallow reefs, these deep systems rely on nutrients from ocean upwelling and river plumes. The project will explore the influence of ocean currents and nutrient flows on reef health. Four research cruises will use underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles to gather video, images, and samples of coral, plankton, and sediment. A novel imaging system called AUTOHOLO, developed by FAU Harbor Branch, will be used to record plankton communities. Instruments will also be placed on the seafloor to monitor conditions such as temperature, oxygen, pH, nutrients, and currents. The research team, led by Mingshun Jiang, Ph.D., includes scientists from Florida State University and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. NOAA researchers will collaborate on fish larval studies, focusing on species such as gag and red grouper. The project aims to map seafloor habitats, compare reef health in nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor areas, and fill knowledge gaps about what sustains these coral ecosystems. James M. Sullivan, Ph.D., executive director of FAU Harbor Branch, said the project will generate essential data for marine management and future conservation planning.