In the well-known Mediterranean Sea, spectacular coral structures are revealing a deep ecosystem that is both rich and little understood. The study of these formations could reshape our understanding of deep-sea habitats in the region.
The Mediterranean often evokes warm, shallow waters, familiar coastlines, and extensively mapped seascapes. Yet beneath its surface, some underwater features remain hidden from scientific radar. One such feature, buried several hundred meters deep, has now revealed a major surprise. A coral reef off Naples, recently discovered by an Italian research team, challenges previous perceptions of this intensively studied sea.
Unexpected biodiversity in the depths of Naples
At over 500 meters below the surface in the Gulf of Naples, researchers from the Italian National Research Council (CNR) have identified a coral reef of remarkable size. Exploration of the Dohrn Canyon, conducted with a remotely operated submarine as part of a European program, revealed massive structures, sometimes up to two meters wide, along a vertical wall more than 80 meters high.
Two species dominate this habitat: Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata, deep-water corals commonly known as “white corals.” These organisms thrive in darkness, feeding on nutrients carried by ocean currents. Other species share this environment, including black corals, sponges, and crustaceans. Together, they form a dense ecosystem with rich biodiversity.
These deep reefs, often called the “rainforests of the sea,” host biodiversity nearly comparable to coastal ecosystems, despite the absence of light. Their complex structures shelter numerous organisms that play crucial ecological roles, including stabilizing the seafloor.
What the Naples coral reef reveals about the Mediterranean’s marine past
Within the reef, scientists have found fossils of ancient oysters and corals. These calcified traces, natural markers, allow researchers to reconstruct the history of the Mediterranean basin over millennia.
The CNR describes them as “geological testimonies of a distant past,” valuable for understanding historical climate variations and oceanic dynamics. The mineral layers of the corals, similar to tree rings, record certain chemical parameters of seawater over time.
These data will help reconstruct the Mediterranean’s past responses to environmental changes and anticipate future shifts. This stratigraphic reading of living organisms offers researchers a unique tool for analyzing the underwater climate.
