![[Image: Crypthelia vascomarquesi fragment at 5 mm magnification.]
"It was the summer of 2012 when the #DEEPFUN cruise lead RV Thalassa with the ROV Victor 6000 to the Menez Gwen Marine Protected Area (MPA). The expedition aimed to explore unfamiliar ground, never seen before in the 70 ROV dives of previous expeditions on the #MPA, around the hydrothermal vent field. Crypth'Hill was found 5 km away from the vents, with a brand new coral garden discovered between 832 and 856 m depth.
This coral garden is unique because it is the first vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) formed by the genus Crypthelia found in the world. It is also the 16th stylasterid coral garden reported for the deep sea."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ckrzdo7lvgyidayr6adznflp/bafkreig5cimpgmqmquuf4cmz6rxtxfnzqkt5gp6v5hitjfcshnjfoakree)
[Image: Crypthelia vascomarquesi fragment at 5 mm magnification.] "It was the summer of 2012 when the #DEEPFUN cruise lead RV Thalassa with the ROV Victor 6000 to the Menez Gwen Marine Protected Area (MPA). The expedition aimed to explore unfamiliar ground, never seen before in the 70 ROV dives of previous expeditions on the #MPA, around the hydrothermal vent field. Crypth'Hill was found 5 km away from the vents, with a brand new coral garden discovered between 832 and 856 m depth. This coral garden is unique because it is the first vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) formed by the genus Crypthelia found in the world. It is also the 16th stylasterid coral garden reported for the deep sea."
![[Image: Collage of Crypthelia vascomarquesi branches and corals at 0.01 cm and 1 cm.]
"Stylasterids have high endemism rates. This monospecific coral garden is formed by Crypthelia vascomarquesi, a species only known from the Portuguese archipelagos of Azores and Madeira. The first monospecific #VME formed by a stylasterid in the Azores covers at least 73 meters with a maximum density of 70 colonies per meter, and associated species of fish and marine invertebrates (other corals, sponges, fish and crabs).
The species C. vascomarquesi was named in honor of Vasco Monteiro Marques, a Portuguese biologist that during the 70/80s dove with Helmut Zibrowius, author of the species. Both had spotted the first Atlantic specimens of Corallium rubrum in Algarve."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ckrzdo7lvgyidayr6adznflp/bafkreibhke67m2fnrmo4k4muxzaor4i6qtsh5rxckdlvnmsavrjqsfndmi)
[Image: Collage of Crypthelia vascomarquesi branches and corals at 0.01 cm and 1 cm.] "Stylasterids have high endemism rates. This monospecific coral garden is formed by Crypthelia vascomarquesi, a species only known from the Portuguese archipelagos of Azores and Madeira. The first monospecific #VME formed by a stylasterid in the Azores covers at least 73 meters with a maximum density of 70 colonies per meter, and associated species of fish and marine invertebrates (other corals, sponges, fish and crabs). The species C. vascomarquesi was named in honor of Vasco Monteiro Marques, a Portuguese biologist that during the 70/80s dove with Helmut Zibrowius, author of the species. Both had spotted the first Atlantic specimens of Corallium rubrum in Algarve."
![[Image: Bathymetry map and dive locations of Menez’Gwen/Bubbylon coral-sites (bathymetry courtesy of MARUM) and a photograph of coral garden.]
"Specimens collected during #DEEPFUN cruise were crucial for the species identification, allowing the re-description of C. vascomarquesi with entire specimens, including females that have a unique ampullar formula for the genus.
This discovery has highlighted the natural heritage already protected from direct impacts inside Menez Gwen MPA. The VME is a rare record of highly endemic corals that should be included at the European habitat classification system to guarantee its conservation, scientific study and monitoring of the MPA. The discovery has been published recently at Marine Biodiversity."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ckrzdo7lvgyidayr6adznflp/bafkreiaev2357qgetkf3sby75clwm6fnmbkugal3z6x2hao3mpygdf4rai)
[Image: Bathymetry map and dive locations of Menez’Gwen/Bubbylon coral-sites (bathymetry courtesy of MARUM) and a photograph of coral garden.] "Specimens collected during #DEEPFUN cruise were crucial for the species identification, allowing the re-description of C. vascomarquesi with entire specimens, including females that have a unique ampullar formula for the genus. This discovery has highlighted the natural heritage already protected from direct impacts inside Menez Gwen MPA. The VME is a rare record of highly endemic corals that should be included at the European habitat classification system to guarantee its conservation, scientific study and monitoring of the MPA. The discovery has been published recently at Marine Biodiversity."
Hey, members!
Today Íris Sampaio / @irissampaio.bsky.social shares exciting news about the 2012 #DEEPFUN cruise & Menez Gwen #MPA in the #Azores: the first discovery of a vulnerable marine ecosystem / #VME structured by Crypthelia!
Read more in AltText (& here): link.springer.com/article/10.1...
