Introduction: Cold-Water Coral communities in the Mediterranean Sea

Corselli, Cesare

doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2009.08.018

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Only recently have focused research programs (e.g. APLABES, [28] , EU-FP6 HERMES, EU-FP7 HERMIONE, and EU-FP7 CoralFISH) promoted international oceanographic expeditions using the latest generation of acoustic devices, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and manned submersibles in order to systematically explore the Mediterranean Sea’s deep seabed. As a result of such programs, the occurrence of VMEs has been revealed (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping Cold-Water Coral Habitats at Different Scales within the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean): An Assessment of Coral Coverage and Associated Vulnerability

et al. 2014

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In this study, we mapped the distribution of Cold-Water Coral (CWC) habitats on the northern Ionian Margin (Mediterranean Sea), with an emphasis on assessing coral coverage at various spatial scales over an area of 2,000 km2 between 120 and 1,400 m of water depth. Our work made use of a set of data obtained from ship-based research surveys. Multi-scale seafloor mapping data, video inspections, and previous results from sediment samples were integrated and analyzed using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tools. Results obtained from the application of spatial and textural analytical techniques to acoustic meso-scale maps (i.e. a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of the seafloor at a 40 m grid cell size and associated terrain parameters) and large-scale maps (i.e. Side-Scan Sonar (SSS) mosaics of 1 m in resolution ground-truthed using underwater video observations) were integrated and revealed that, at the meso-scale level, the main morphological pattern (i.e. the aggregation of mound-like features) associated with CWC habitat occurrences was widespread over a total area of 600 km2. Single coral mounds were isolated from the DTM and represented the geomorphic proxies used to model coral distributions within the investigated area. Coral mounds spanned a total area of 68 km2 where different coral facies (characterized using video analyses and mapped on SSS mosaics) represent the dominant macro-habitat. We also mapped and classified anthropogenic threats that were identifiable within the examined videos, and, here, discuss their relationship to the mapped distribution of coral habitats and mounds. The combined results (from multi-scale habitat mapping and observations of the distribution of anthropogenic threats) provide the first quantitative assessment of CWC coverage for a Mediterranean province and document the relevant role of seafloor geomorphology in influencing habitat vulnerability to different types of human pressures.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping Cold-Water Coral Habitats at Different Scales within the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean): An Assessment of Coral Coverage and Associated Vulnerability

et al. 2014

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“…Sampling was carried out in April 2010, in the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) coral province (Ionian Sea; Central Mediterranean) (Figure 1) Taviani et al 2005;Corselli 2010), during a research cruise on board the R/V (Research Vessel) Minerva I, within the EU 7FP CoralFISH project. The first findings (Stations BT47 and BT64; Table I) were carried out by means of an epibenthic sledge with a fixed iron opening of 3.8 m by 0.46 m and a mesh size of 0.5 cm.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

First record ofProtoptilum carpenteri(Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Pennatulacea) in the Mediterranean Sea

Mastrototaro

Capezzuto

Carlucci

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Zoology

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This paper reports the first finding of the sea pen Protoptilum carpenteri Kölliker, 1872 in the Mediterranean Sea. A total of three colonies were collected in 2010 with an epibenthic sledge, and one colony in 2013 with a bottom-trawl net, in the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) coral province in the Ionian Sea. The main anatomical features and taxonomic characteristics are reported and discussed in order to update the knowledge of this species. A description of morphologies and dimensions of the sclerites, taken from different parts of the colony, is reported. A comparison with Atlantic records is given and discussed.

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“…). During the APLABES project, (Corselli ) an area of 800 km 2 was mapped by means of multibeam sonar, between 200 and 1300 m in depth. This area includes (i) a broad eastern sector, influenced by mass‐transport deposition, with a very complex hummocky sea floor consisting of widespread mound‐like reliefs, (ii) a central ridge where drift sedimentation has been recognised by documenting the action of contour currents from the northeast and (iii) prominent fault‐scarps to the west, where widespread erosion processes are evident from the emergence of stiff and/or hardened older sediments (Savini & Corselli ; Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A facies of Kophobelemnon (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from Santa Maria di Leuca coral province (Mediterranean Sea)

et al. 2013

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During a research cruise carried out in April 2010, aimed at updating the knowledge on the biodiversity of the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) cold-water coral province (Mediterranean Sea), a facies of the sea pen Kophobelemnon stelliferum (Muller, 1776) was found on mud-dominated bottoms. This finding represents a new species and a new habitat record from the SML coral province as well as a new bathyal facies in the whole Central Mediterranean Sea. The colonies were collected using an epi-benthic sledge, at depths between 400 and 470 m. A significant positive relationship between polyp number and colony length was detected. Density of the colonies ranged from 0.003 to 0.038 NÁm À2 . Differences and affinities between Mediterranean and Atlantic occurrences of K. stelliferum are discussed.

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Introduction: Cold-Water Coral communities in the Mediterranean Sea

Cited by 16 publications

References 15 publications

Mapping Cold-Water Coral Habitats at Different Scales within the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean): An Assessment of Coral Coverage and Associated Vulnerability

Mapping Cold-Water Coral Habitats at Different Scales within the Northern Ionian Sea (Central Mediterranean): An Assessment of Coral Coverage and Associated Vulnerability

First record ofProtoptilum carpenteri(Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Pennatulacea) in the Mediterranean Sea

A facies of Kophobelemnon (Cnidaria, Octocorallia) from Santa Maria di Leuca coral province (Mediterranean Sea)

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