Reciprocal-transplantation between shallow and mesophotic stony corals

Highlights: Corals present differential survivorship at adjacent reefs with variable conditions. Photoacclimation enables survivorship of mesophotic corals at shallow reefs. Corals' response to light, nutrients and sediment regimes is species-specific. Year-long in-situ successful cross-transplantion of corals between depths and sites. Light, nutrient and sediment regimes have a crucial role in survivorship of corals