1. Physical processes in a mesophotic coral refuge across bleaching events Joanna Gyory 1 · Tyler Smith 1 · Laurent Cherubin 2 1 University of the Virgin Islands 2 University of Miami

4. Shallow water temperature has increased in the past two decades in the USVI Computed daily average temperature between July 1 and October 31 Counted the number of days at or above each temperature for each year

5. 1996 116 26 0

6. Shallow water temperature has increased in the past two decades in the USVI

7. Bleaching Prevalence

8. Photo by Robert Brewer Temperature Irradiance Potential for heterotrophy

14. Photo by Robert Brewer Temperature Irradiance Potential for heterotrophy

15. Shallow Mesophotic

19. WinterSummer

22. Hurricane Earl

23. Shallow Mesophotic

24. Shallow Mesophotic

25. Daily average temperature in a mesophotic reef

26. Photo by Robert Brewer Temperature Irradiance Potential for heterotrophy

29. 20052006 2007 2008

30. Conclusions Seasonal stratification separates the environments of shallow and mesophotic reefs Mesophotic corals have a different bleaching threshold than shallow corals Hurricane mixing may increase temperature in the mesophotic environment Hints that zooplankton delivery to mesophotic reefs is enhanced during warmest months Hurricane Earl