Scientists from the Faculty of Geology from the University of Warsaw (UW) have studied the oldest reefs of the mesophotic zone on Gotland discovered so far. 

The analyses “revealed a large erosion channel that is a sedimentary structure connecting the shallow and deeper zones of the then marine reservoir”. The results of the study were published in Coral Reefs.

One of the environments in which reefs commonly occur is the mesophotic zone, also known as the semiarid zone. It is usually found at depths of 30-150 metres. This is a depth range where only a small amount of light reaches, necessitating characteristic ecological adaptations of the organisms that inhabit it. 

A team of geologists from the University of Warsaw led by Prof. Piotr Łuczyński studied Silurian sediments exposed on Gotland, discovering a sedimentary structure linking the shallow and deeper zones of the then sea basin.

Published in Coral Reefs, the findings shed new light on the possible nature of the colonisation process of the semiarid zone. Structures such as the discovered channel probably occurred along shallow zone inclinations elsewhere in the world as well, representing a combination of shallow-water and mesophotic ecosystems.

Read more: 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-023-02416-1