I would like to join the forum to share my science studying deep mesophotic coral reef ecosystems in French Polynesia and Indonesia. These deep reefs are largely unexplored and might play key roles in maintaining functionality and the resilience of coral reefs with climate change.

I also want to hear about the cutting-edge research carried out by postdocs and scientists in other Hong Kong institutions.

Disappearing coral reefs under climate change increased attention to understudied Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (30-150m). Despite decreasing light, these deep reefs could act as refugia for
shallow reefs because disturbances might reduce effects with depth. Focusing on previous French Polynesian (Central Pacific) data and ongoing Indonesian fieldwork data, my research aims to shed light on these deep mesophotic coral ecosystem functions and ecology with systematic quantitative assessments. My work highlights hotspots of biodiversity and scleractinian cover along the depth gradient, assessing the depths of the most spatially variable and diverse communities and the potential to escape future disturbances with climate change. Overall, understanding the role that mesophotic ecosystems are likely to play in the overall coral reef resilience and recommending their consideration in conservation planning.