Biodiversity of the white coral reefs in the Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean)

Tursi, Angelo; Mastrototaro, Francesco; Matarrese, Angela Maria Stella; Maiorano, Porzia; D’Onghia, Gianfranco

doi:10.1080/02757540310001629170

Cited by 108 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…A single large specimen of T. sagittatus was caught at station 4 (608 m in depth) using a longline (4 LL in Table 1). The presence of D. vitreus on hard substrates of Bari Canyon at station 1B1 confirms the association of this species with CWC (Tursi et al, 2004;Mastrototaro et al, 2010;Rosso et al, 2010a;Taviani et al, 2011). Living benthic molluscs were not found on soft substrates of the Bari Canyon where, on the contrary, a large number of shells of dead molluscs were identified to 55 species belonging to the typical epibathyal mollusc communities currently present in the Mediterranean Sea (Panetta et al, 2013).…”

Section: Molluscamentioning

confidence: 56%

“…1: Uniqueness or rarity; 3: Importance for threatened, endangered or declining species and/or habitats; 5: Biological productivity; 7: Naturalness) as well as the VME (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem) criteria (1: Uniqueness or rarity; 2: functional significance of the habitat; 3: fragility; 4: life-history traits that make recovery difficult; 5: structural complexity) (FAO, 2009) could also be assigned to the Bari Canyon in planning future marine protected areas and management measures in order to preserve its high biodiversity level in relation to the presence of cold-water coral species. Freiwald et al, 2009;Bo et al, 2012;Sanfilippo et al, 2013;Angeletti et al, 2014;D'Onghia et al, 2014; present paper; B: Tursi et al, 2004;Longo et al, 2005;Schönberg & Beuck, 2007;Carlier et al, 2009;Freiwald et al, 2009;D'Onghia et al, 2010D'Onghia et al, , 2011D'Onghia et al, , 2012Mastrototaro et al, 2010Mastrototaro et al, , 2013Mastrototaro et al, , 2014.…”

Section: Conservation Issues and Concluding Remarksmentioning

confidence: 73%

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Macro- and megafauna recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea) using different tools

et al. 2015

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Macro- and megafauna were recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea) during an oceanographic cruise carried out in May-June 2012 and an experimental fishing survey conducted in November 2013. During the former, a total of 20 benthic samples were taken using a Van Veen grab at depths between 268 and 770 m and 4 deployments of a baited lander, for about 43 hours of video records, were carried out at depths between 443 and 788 m. During the latter, 8 longline fishing operations were conducted from 338 down to 612 m. Eighty-five living benthic and benthopelagic species were recorded: 29 Porifera, 1 Cnidaria, 2 Mollusca, 11 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 19 Bryozoa, 3 Echinodermata and 19 Chordata. A total of 51 species are new records for the Bari Canyon, 29 new records for the Adriatic Sea. Among the Porifera Cerbaris curvispiculifer is a new addition for the Italian Sponge Fauna. The first certain record of living specimens for the bryozoan Crisia tenella longinodata is reported. A total of 6 Mediterranean endemic species have been identified: 4 Porifera and 2 Annelida. The bathymetric range of some species has been extended. New information acquired for deep sea species confirms their importance in the structure of cold-water coral communities. This study has updated the knowledge on the biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea, as well as of the Bari Canyon in particular, one of the sites designated as “jewels of the Mediterranean” for which urgent conservation measures are needed.

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Section: Molluscamentioning

confidence: 56%

Section: Conservation Issues and Concluding Remarksmentioning

confidence: 73%

Macro- and megafauna recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea) using different tools

et al. 2015

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“…It is hypothesized that reefs may function as centres of spreading for associated fauna . Deep-sea coral reefs are important for fisheries: fish aggregate on deep-sea reefs as they provide protection from currents and predators, nurseries for young fish, and feeding, breeding and spawning areas for numerous fish and shellfish species , including crustacea and fish species of economic interest, such as Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Helicolenus dactylopterus (Tursi et al, 2004). Furthermore, coral and sponge communities are a largely untapped resource of natural products with enormous potential as pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, enzymes, pesticides, cosmetics, and other commercial products .…”

Section: Communities Of Deep-sea Corals (Eunis A661)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wounds in coral tissue and infection cause additional deaths in those that are not killed outright. Furthermore, bottom trawl activity alters the hydrodynamic and sedimentary conditions (Tursi et al, 2004). Another impact of trawling activity on the white coral reef is due to the suspension of sediments; in fact, coral species, like all suspension feeders, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of increased sedimentation (Rogers, 1999).…”

Section: Communities Of Deep-sea Corals (Eunis A661)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

et al. 2012

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The goal of ecosystem-based marine spatial management is to maintain marine ecosystems in a healthy, productive and resilient condition; hence, they can sustainably provide the needed goods and services for human welfare. However, the increasing pressures upon the marine realm threaten marine ecosystems, especially seabed biotopes, and thus a well-planned approach of managing use of marine space is essential to achieve sustainability. The relative value of seabed biotopes, evaluated on the basis of goods and services, is an important starting point for the spatial management of marine areas. Herein, 56 types of European seabed biotopes and their related goods, services, sensitivity issues, and conservation status were compiled, the latter referring to management and protection tools which currently apply for these biotopes at European or international level. Fishing activities, especially by benthic trawls, and marine pollution are the main threats to European seabed biotopes. Increased seawater turbidity, dredged sediment disposal, coastal constructions, biological invasions, mining, extraction of raw materials, shipping-related activities, tourism, hydrocarbon exploration, and even some practices of scientific research, also exert substantial pressure. Although some first steps have been taken to protect the European sea beds through international agreements and European and national legislation, a finer scale of classification and assessment of marine biotopes is considered crucial in shaping sound priorities and management guidelines towards the effective conservation and sustainability of European marine resources.

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“…On the basis of the existing knowledge, only A. subpinnata, also thriving at deep diving depth, may form extended and dense meadows of colonies (Bo et al 2008(Bo et al , 2009). In the Mediterranean Sea, observations of other black coral species are not common and concern mainly the pinkorange colonies of L. glaberrima, found commonly at depths exceeding 600 m, associated with the white coral reefs in the Ionian Sea (Mastrototaro et al 2002;Tursi et al 2004). Records of the other species are usually made possible by fortuitous fishery by-catches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coral assemblage off the Calabrian Coast (South Italy) with new observations on living colonies ofAntipathes dichotoma

Bavestrello

Canese

et al. 2011

Italian Journal of Zoology

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The discovery of a small population of the black coral Antipathes dichotoma in the deep waters off the Calabrian coast (South Italy, Tyrrhenian Sea) is reported. The specimens have been photographed and a piece of colony has been collected with the aid of an ROV during an oceanographic cruise on board of the R/V Astrea of ICRAM, within the project Monitoring of the Calabrian Marine Biodiversity (MoBioMarCal). This finding completes the systematic picture of the oldest-described antipatharian species, giving an account of the living colonies and polyps, their cnidome and the habitat of the species, characterised by a rich and diverse coral community.

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Biodiversity of the white coral reefs in the Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean)

Cited by 108 publications

References 13 publications

Macro- and megafauna recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea) using different tools

Macro- and megafauna recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea) using different tools

Assessment of goods and services, vulnerability, and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management

Coral assemblage off the Calabrian Coast (South Italy) with new observations on living colonies ofAntipathes dichotoma

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