Abstract Marine Animal Forests (MAFs) in mesophotic ecosystems in some areas are mainly defined by Antipatharia (black corals). Among them, whip black corals (or unbranched corals) have a single-stem corallum and thrive in deeper habitats with strong currents. It has been suggested that the MAFs are biodiversity hotspots and may be seen as refugia and/or feeding areas for many species. The bearded fireworm, Hermodice carunculata , an omnivorous and opportunistic feeder that exhibits scavenging behavior, has been found in association with black coral forests; however, its co-occurrence with unbranched whip corals has not been previously documented and quantified. This study reveals the presence of H. carunculata alongside Stichopathes spp. in deep-water MAFs off Punta Blanca in Southwest Tenerife (Canary Islands), with a 40% co-occurrence rate in the video ROV transects. Highest values of both species were recorded at depths between 80 and 120 m. Correlations between H. carunculata and S. gracilis (r = 0.895) and S. setacea (r = 0.715) indicate positive relationships between the ecosystem engineer and the vagile species. These findings underscore the importance of MAFs in promoting biodiversity, highlight their vulnerability in a climate change world, and call for a deeper understanding of these ecosystems to inform conservation efforts.
Fraissinet et al. (Sat,) studied this question.