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Science 28 April 2006:
Vol. 312. no. 5773, pp. 543 - 547
DOI: 10.1126/science.1119861
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Review

Reefs of the Deep: The Biology and Geology of Cold-Water Coral Ecosystems

J. Murray Roberts,1 Andrew J. Wheeler,2 André Freiwald3

Coral reefs are generally associated with shallow tropical seas; however, recent deep-ocean exploration using advanced acoustics and submersibles has revealed unexpectedly widespread and diverse coral ecosystems in deep waters on continental shelves, slopes, seamounts, and ridge systems around the world. Advances reviewed here include the use of corals as paleoclimatic archives and their biogeological functioning, biodiversity, and biogeography. Threats to these fragile, long-lived, and rich ecosystems are mounting: The impacts of deep-water trawling are already widespread, and effects of ocean acidification are potentially devastating.

1 Scottish Association for Marine Science, Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK.
2 Department of Geology and Environmental Research Institute, Donovan's Road, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
3 Institute of Paleontology, Erlangen University, Loewenichstrasse 28, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany.

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