Geomorphology, Geological Structure, Active Tectonics, and Basin Formation in the Aegean Sea

Sakellariou, D.; Rousakis, G.; Drakopoulou, Paraskevi; Tsampouraki-Kraounaki, Konstantina; Morfis, Ioannis; Livanos, Isidoros; Loukaidi, Vassiliki; Kyriakidou, C.; Manta, Kyriaki; Lykousis, V.

doi:10.1007/698_2020_729

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The predominance of the Aegean Sea in terms of sponge diversity, at least in the shallower depth zones, could be attributed to a certain degree to its unique geomorphological features. The Aegean Sea is characterized by an extensive coastal relief and continental shelf, a wide number of islands and insular clusters [73], as well as numerous smaller or larger flatbottomed basins [74], providing sufficient vital space for the development of rich benthic communities. On the other hand, the Ionian Sea has a narrower continental shelf [74] and is characterized by a sharp increase in depth and an extended abyssal plain, which greatly restricts the hard substrate habitat favorable for sponges.…”

Section: Sponge Geographical and Bathymetric Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Aegean Sea is characterized by an extensive coastal relief and continental shelf, a wide number of islands and insular clusters [73], as well as numerous smaller or larger flatbottomed basins [74], providing sufficient vital space for the development of rich benthic communities. On the other hand, the Ionian Sea has a narrower continental shelf [74] and is characterized by a sharp increase in depth and an extended abyssal plain, which greatly restricts the hard substrate habitat favorable for sponges. This view is further strengthened by the fact that in the deep depth zones the cumulative sponge diversity was equally poor in both areas.…”

Section: Sponge Geographical and Bathymetric Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sponge Community Patterns in Mesophotic and Deep-Sea Habitats in the Aegean and Ionian Seas

Stamouli,

Gerovasileiou,

Voultsiadou

2023

JMSE

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Sponge assemblages play a significant role in the functioning of the Mediterranean benthic ecosystem. The main goal of this study was to investigate the diversity and distribution of poorly known sponge communities in the mesophotic and deep-sea substrates of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. More than 1500 sponge specimens belonging to 87 taxa were collected from 156 stations during experimental and commercial bottom trawling in the Aegean Sea and the eastern part of the Ionian ecoregion, at depths of between 10 and 800 m. A total of 79 sponge species were found in the Aegean and 40 species in the Ionian Sea. Eight of these species are included in lists of endangered and threatened species, two were newly recorded in the Aegean and six were first recorded in the east Ionian Sea. Both community structure and diversity differed between the two ecoregions. Species richness, biomass, abundance and diversity decreased with increasing depth, while different species dominated, in terms of biomass, abundance and frequency of appearance, in the two ecoregions and the separate depth zones. In contrast with previous investigations, which mostly examined shallow-water sponges, no clear resemblance patterns were observed among the north and south Aegean subareas, probably due to the homogeneity of the deep-sea habitats under investigation. This study, using sampling material from fish stock monitoring programs for the first time, contributed to our knowledge of the largely unknown eastern Mediterranean mesophotic and deep-sea sponge populations, which are subjected to intensive trawling activities.

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Section: Sponge Geographical and Bathymetric Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%