Distribution of deep-water Scleractinian corals in the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

The distribution pattern of deep-water Scleractinian corals was studied in the Atlantic Ocean at a depth more than 2 km on the basis of our own and published data. It was shown that deep-water corals predominate (with respect to species diversity and number) in the eastern part of the ocean. In its western part, some species (Desmophyllum dianthus, Flabellum angulare, etc.) were not revealed. In the tropical zone of the North Atlantic, the distribution pattern of shallow- and deep-water corals differs. At the coast of South America, deepwater corals are absent, which is probably related to the deep part of the global oceanic conveyor belt.