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3243006 
Journal Article 
Habitat-forming cold-water corals show affinity for seamounts in the New Zealand region 
Tracey, DM; Rowden, AA; Mackay, KA; Compton, T 
2011 
1 
Marine Ecology Progress Series
ISSN: 0171-8630
EISSN: 1616-1599 
430 
1-U59 
WOS:000291826600001 
Determining the distribution of habitat-forming
scleractinian corals in the New Zealand region is necessary in order to understand the ecological
significance of these taxa and the likely impact of anthropogenic activities on their
persistence. Historical records from early publications, research trawl surveys, commercial
fishing bycatch and recent biodiversity surveys were compiled for the habitat-forming coral
species Madrepora oculata, Solenosmilia variabilis, Goniocorella dumosa, Enallopsammia rostrata
and Oculina virgosa. These data were used to describe the observed depth, geographic distribution
and geomorphic habitat associations of the study corals in the region. A boosted regression trees
analysis was also used to identify which of 11 environmental variables best describe the
distribution of the 5 species across the New Zealand region, and to predict their spatial
distribution. The contribution of the environmental variables differed greatly between species,
but consistently identified depth and seamount occurrence as important factors de scribing
observed coral species distribution. The models identified that M. oculata, S. variabilis and E.
rostrata occurred in deep waters (> 1000 m) where seabed slopes were steep, tidal current and
orbital velocities were slow, sea surface primary productivity was low, and where seamounts were
generally present. By contrast, G. dumosa and O. virgosa were found in relatively shallower
waters, where sea surface primary productivity was high and tidal current speeds were generally
fast. Spatial predictions were consistent with the recorded observations and identified that all
species, apart from O. virgosa, were distributed throughout the region and were found primarily
between similar to 200 and 2000 m. 
Deep sea; Scleractinia; Stony corals; Cold-water corals; Distribution; Habitat; Predictive modelling; New Zealand