Code used to analyze data for "Photosynthetic usable energy drives vertical patterns of coral biodiversity"

A physiologically robust mechanistic model to simulate the depth-dependent variation in photosynthetic usable energy to corals was used to explore the relationship between productivity and biodiversity in hermatypic coral communities, whose members rely on mutualistic associations with photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae). The model included parameters modulated by local water properties, primary productivity of the algal symbionts and costs associated with repair of their photosynthetic apparatus. Several reefs with contrasting light attenuation and species richness across depths in marine biodiversity hotspots distributed around the world were considered in this analysis.