Benthic-Pelagic Coupling: New Perspectives in the Animal Forests

Rossi, Sergio; Coppari, Martina; Viladrich, Núria

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21012-4_23

Cited by 24 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 83 publications

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“…As such, they enhance the spatial heterogeneity of the seabed and attract highly diverse associated fauna (Bo et al 2012(Bo et al , 2015, including numerous species of commercial interest, such as the lobsters Palinurus elephas and Homarus gammarus and the fish Conger conger (Bo et al 2009a;Chimienti et al 2020). Furthermore, black corals play an important ecological role in the benthic-pelagic coupling by capturing plankton and particulate organic matter suspended in the water (Gili and Coma 1998;Rossi et al 2017;Coppari et al 2020a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genomic structure of the black coral Antipathella subpinnata in Mediterranean Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

et al. 2021

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Antipathella subpinnata (Ellis and Solander 1786) is one of the most frequently observed black corals at mesophotic depths (60–200 m) of the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the northwestern part of the basin, where its populations can reach high densities and create forest-like aggregations, both along the coast and in offshore locations such as seamounts. Similar to other marine underwater forests, black coral gardens host a rich associated fauna and attract numerous species of commercial interest. As such, these corals are targeted by recreational and artisanal fisheries and are vulnerable to human impact due to their arborescent morphology and low growth rates. Genetic connectivity can provide valuable insight into the processes of population maintenance and replenishment following environmental disturbance and is often used as a proxy for population resilience. In our study, a restriction-site associated DNA analysis (2bRAD) was used to evaluate fine-scale population structure of the Mediterranean black coral A. subpinnata, and to understand which populations could serve as a potential source of genetic diversity for adjacent populations. Colonies from two offshore localities (a Ligurian seamount and a Tyrrhenian canyon) and four coastal populations from Liguria and Sicily were sampled and genotyped. Significant genetic differentiation was recorded between coastal and offshore localities. Moreover, offshore localities were genetically distinct from one another, while all coastal populations were characterized by panmixia. This indicates that offshore A. subpinnata gardens are potentially less resilient to human impact (i.e., demersal fishing activities) due to a limited influx of larvae from adjacent habitats. In addition, they are unlikely to supply coral propagules to coastal populations. Overall, this study highlights the vulnerability of Mediterranean A. subpinnata forests, and the importance of enforcing conservation and management measures to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES, EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive) of these valuable marine ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population genomic structure of the black coral Antipathella subpinnata in Mediterranean Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

et al. 2021

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“…Most of the identified species are suspension feeders, a functional group that typically dominates at these depths in the Mediterranean Sea [56,57,65,66,67] and in all the communities herein described (with the only exception of Community 4, occurring on hard bottoms in all the investigated areas, and characterized by the complete absence of large structuring species). These complex, three-dimensional communities play a key role in the maintenance of the overall benthic diversity of the area and must be considered a fundamental link for energy transfer between the pelagic and the benthic ecosystem [30,33,34].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gorgonians, soft corals, sea pens, black corals, hydrozoans, sponges and large bryozoans constitute the main structuring components of such Mediterranean communities [28]. Due to their complex three-dimensional shapes, which enhance spatial and functional heterogeneity [30,31], marine animal forests attract a rich associated fauna [25,29,32] and play a significant role in benthic-pelagic coupling, providing a strong link between the water column and the seafloor environment [33,34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Megabenthic communities of the Ligurian deep continental shelf and shelf break (NW Mediterranean Sea)

et al. 2019

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The Ligurian Sea is one of the most studied Mediterranean basins. Since the beginning of the last century, many research expeditions have characterized its benthic and pelagic fauna through scuba diving and trawl surveys. However, a large knowledge gap exists about the composition of benthic communities extending into the so-called mesophotic or twilight depth range, currently under intense pressure from commercial and recreational fishing. A series of visual surveys, carried out by means of remotely operated vehicles between 2012 and 2018, were conducted along the Ligurian deep continental shelf and shelf break, between 30 and 210 m depth, in order to characterize the main benthic biocoenoses dwelling at this depth range and to determine the most relevant environmental factors that explain their spatial distribution. Deep circalittoral communities of the Ligurian Sea were represented by a mixture of species belonging to the deepest extension of shallow-water habitats and deep circalittoral ones. Twelve major biocoenoses were identified, each one characterized by specific preferences in depth range, substrate type and seabed slope. Those biocoenoses included gorgonian and hydrozoan forests, dense keratose sponge grounds, Dendrophyllia cornigera gardens, bryozoan beds and soft-bottom meadows of sabellid polychaetes and soft-corals. Other less common aggregations included six forests of black corals and two populations of Paramuricea macrospina. A georeferenced database has been created in order to provide information to managers and stakeholders about the location of the identified communities and high-diversity areas, aiming to facilitate sustainable long-term conservation of the Ligurian benthic ecosystem.

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“…In new ice-free areas of the WAP ascidians reach the higher abundances (Lagger et al 2017(Lagger et al , 2018, which could increase retention of a greater share of the productivity in their living structures for decades (Kowalke et al 2001). Nevertheless, these organisms of apparently great C sink potential in shallow waters (Petersen andRiisgård 1992, Coppari et al 2014) are generally neglected in the overall equation of C circulation in our changing world (Rossi et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The abundance and distribution of benthic suspension feeders depend on the quality of available food sources (Gardner 2000, Rossi et al 2015, Jansen et al 2018a. The degree to which the quantity and composition of accessible food meets the consumer's nutritional needs defines food quality (Müller-Navarra, 2008), while the characteristics of the diet define the way in which the digestion process takes place in suspension feeders (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of suspension feeders in antarctic pelagic-benthic coupling: Trophic ecology and potential carbon sinks under climate change

Alurralde

Fuentes

Maggioni

et al. 2019

Marine Environmental Research

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Benthic-Pelagic Coupling: New Perspectives in the Animal Forests

Cited by 24 publications

References 83 publications

Population genomic structure of the black coral Antipathella subpinnata in Mediterranean Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

Population genomic structure of the black coral Antipathella subpinnata in Mediterranean Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

Megabenthic communities of the Ligurian deep continental shelf and shelf break (NW Mediterranean Sea)

Role of suspension feeders in antarctic pelagic-benthic coupling: Trophic ecology and potential carbon sinks under climate change

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