M1.10 Rhodolith/Maërl beds

M1. Marine shelf biome

M1
Published

June 1, 2024

Modified

July 22, 2024

Profile summary

Full profile at https://global-ecosystems.org/explore/groups/M1.10

Brief description

These slow growing biogenic structures are formed by long-lived coralline algae that absorb a wide spectrum of light, provide energy to the system and contribute to nutrient cycles. They can occur in shallow or intermediates depths with coarse gravel, sandy or mixed muddy substrates. The carbonate structures of living and dead rhodoliths, and the spatial (depth gradient) and temporal (diurnal and seasonal) variation in the environmental conditions provide habitat for diverse communities of macroinvertebrates and fish, along with other characteristic sessile organisms like algae and sponges. Storms, waves and other disturbances drive cycles of restructuring and slow recovery.

Key features

Biogenic beds formed by non-geniculate (non-jointed), free-living coralline algae on soft substrates supporting diverse benthic and demersal fauna and bacterial biofilms.

Overview of distribution

Continental and island shelves at depths up to 270 m from the subtropics to subpolar waters.

Map description

Distribution of rhodolith beds was taken from spatial predictions of suitable habitats for rhodolith forming species at global scales, including both tropical - warm temperate and polar - cold temperate affiliated rhodolith species (Fragkopoulou et al. 2021). Maps have a spatial resolution of 5 arc-minute. .

Map code and version: M1.10.WM.nwx v1.0, available at DOI

Version history

Profile versions

  • v2.1 (2022-06-29): DA Keith; W Nelson; E Fragkopoulou; J Assis; N Schubert.1

Available maps

Read more details about the current map versions here.

  • Indicative Map (code: M1.10.WM.nwx, version v1.0) DOI

Read more details about older or alternative versions of maps for this functional group.

References

Main references

References used in the different versions of the profiles.

  • Fragkopoulou Eliza, Serrão Ester A., Horta Paulo A., Koerich Gabrielle, Assis Jorge (2021) Bottom Trawling Threatens Future Climate Refugia of Rhodoliths Globally Frontiers in Marine Science 7: 1246 DOI:10.3389/fmars.2020.594537
  • Moura RL, Abieri ML, Castro GM et al. (2021) Tropical rhodolith beds are a major and belittled reef fish habitat. Scientific Reports 11: 794.
  • Pereira-Filho GH, Francini-Filho RB, Pierozzi I et al. (2015) Sponges and fish facilitate succession from rhodolith beds to reefs. Bulletin of Marine Science 91: 45-46.
  • Riosmena-Rodríguez, R Nelson W, Aguirre J (2017) Rhodolith/Maërl Beds: A global perspective. Springer, Cham.

Map references

References used in the different versions of the maps (current and discarded).

  • Fragkopoulou Eliza, Serrão Ester A., Horta Paulo A., Koerich Gabrielle, Assis Jorge (2021) Bottom Trawling Threatens Future Climate Refugia of Rhodoliths Globally Frontiers in Marine Science 7: 1246 DOI:10.3389/fmars.2020.594537

Footnotes

  1. This is the current version available at official site.↩︎