Specimen of Dendrophyllia cf. ramea.Collection of Dendrophyllia samples with the mechanical arm of the MAX ROV.

Digital Terrain Model of the surveyed area.

© C. Jimenez - Enalia Physis

Map of distribution of cold and warm water corals.

Research vessel Aegaeo.

© Hugo Ahlenius, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

© HCMR

© CYCLAMEN

Cold-water corals may exist as solitary individuals but can also form large communities and reefs, just like warm-water corals do. These cold-water corals differ in two main aspects to their tropical relatives: they do not host symbiotic algae in their tissue; hence their nutri-tion relies completely in zooplankton and small organic particles trapped using their tentacles (heterotrophy). Evolution has driven them to adapting their physiology in such a way as to be able to cope with deep and colder waters than their tropical and temperate cous-ins.

What are cold-water corals?

Cold-water corals are animals, close relatives to the well-known tropical corals from the warm and shallow waters of the world’s oceans.

Where do cold-water corals live?

Cold-water corals are distributed in all of the world’s oceans, inhabiting the deep and dim-lighted seafloor. These tough corals have been found in total darkness as deep as 6000m with some extreme species thriving in temperatures as cold as -1ºC. In Cyprus, important cold-water coral communities have been found for the first time, during the CYCLA-MEN project exploration in June 2015, in waters off Protaras, at 120-140m depth.

How can cold-water corals be investigated?

The remote depths inhabited by these corals require special research methods. One of the first aspects needed, in order to explore them, is the geomorphology of the area so as to visualise the seafloor topography. This can be through remote sens-ing techniques to produce a three-dimensional image of the sea-scape. Furthermore, since corals are vulnerable species, the use of non-destructive sampling methods such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), which allows us to record video images of the corals in their natural habi-tat, is preferred. Manipulators on the ROVs allow the selective collection of samples, which can be used for several studies in order to learn more about the biology and ecology of the organisms.

Why it is important to investigate cold-wa-ter corals?

Corals are some of the most important habi-tat-building species in the sea. They play a similar role as trees do in terrestrial ecosystems, offering three-di-mensional spaces to be occupied by a myriad of other species, among them some of the fishes and crusta-ceans we have in our menus. The marine ecosystems dominated by these corals are considered hot spots of biodiversity.

Coral reefs: warm water cold water

Anthropogenic impacts: rubbish and amphorae on the sea�oor.

Live specimens of Dendrophyllia cf. ramea at Ocean aquarium, Protaras.© L. Hadjioannou – Enalia Physis

© L. Hadjioannou – Enalia Physis© CYCLAMEN

Threats to cold-water corals.

Human activities take place everywhere, from the shallow to the deeper areas of the oceans. Cold-water coral habitats do not escape from the impact of humans. The most significant anthropogenic threats to them are fishing activities with the highest impact made by deep-bottom trawling, which completely destroys communities dominated by these fragile organisms, as well as bottom long-line fishing. At the deep-water coral communities off Protaras, the most frequent companion to the corals was rubbish. Corals and other organisms were occasionally tangled on relic fishing gear, plastic bags, car tires and other un-identi-fied debris. In addition, the rapid climatic changes we are expe-riencing in the last decades, resulting in the warming of the oceans are undoubtedly affecting marine life, including cold-water corals. It is doubtful whether such corals will survive the sudden and prolonged rises in their ambient temperatures, which are being predicted.

Participating organizations:

Funded by:

About the project:

The Cold-water corals of Cyprus: Environmental settings and ecological features (CYprus Cold-corals Levantine SeA, Eastern MEditerraneaN: CYCLA-MEN), funded by the TOTAL Foundation, commenced in December of 2014. Within the framework of the two-year project, CYCLAMEN will conduct a detailed study of deep coral communities in Cypriot waters, the first of its kind in the eastern Mediterranean. The research will include the environmental characterization of the area, as well as the study of the spatial distribution of deep coral communities. In addition to the study of the biology of the coral species, genetic studies will be included, as well as their responses to environ-mental changes through ecophysiological examina-tions. This project’s subject is pioneering for Cyprus and will have an associated scientific outreach programme in order to bring these ecosystems, still much unknown, to the general public.

Cold - water coralsof Cyprus:

Environmental settings and ecological features