Marine benthic cartography of the Cap de Creus (NE Catalan Coast, Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

SUMMARY:The marine benthic cartography of the Cap de Creus and surrounding areas (NW Mediterranean Sea) was obtained by combining classical grabbing methods with more recent imaging methods based on a remotely operated vehicle. The goals of this particular survey can be summarized as follows: 1) to chart the benthic communities (and the area of each one); 2) to evaluate the benthic diversity of the areas; 3) to produce visual documentation of the distributions of the benthic organisms; 4) to identify human-induced pressures on the benthic environment; 5) to make recommendations for future management based on the visual assessment; and 6) to set up a new methodology for making large biocenosis maps that would help to manage marine protected and non-protected areas. The marine environment off the Alt Empordà County was shown to have a very rich diversity of benthic habitats. Twenty community categories were identified from videos and grabs. Though benthic habitats mostly located inside a marine protected area were assessed, man-made objects were seen in 10% of the analyzed minutes filmed. The study led to a comprehensive review of the main biotope systems of this coastal area, as well as their environmental condition, and this will be an essential element for their future management.Keywords: benthic cartography, ROV, marine protected areas, NE catalan coast. RESUMEN: Cartografía bentónica marina del Cabo de Creus (costa catalana NE, Mar Mediterráneo). -Se presenta una cartografía bentónica marina del Cabo de Creus y sus áreas adyacentes (NO del Mediterráneo). Esta cartografía ha sido obtenida combinando métodos clásicos de dragado con métodos basados en imágenes obtenidas mediante vehículos operados a control remoto (ROV). Los objetivos de este estudio pueden resumirse en: 1) efectuar un mapa de sus comunidades (y su extensión), 2) evaluar su diversidad de hábitats, 3) documentar visualmente la distribución de sus organismos, 4) identificar presiones humanas en el medio marino, 5) efectuar recomendaciones para su futura gestión, y 6) desarrollar una nueva metodología de generación de mapas que pueda servir en la gestión de áreas marinas protegidas y no protegidas. El ambiente estudiado se caracteriza por una alta diversidad de hábitats, una veintena fueron identificados. A pesar de estar trabajando principalmente en una zona protegida, en el 10% de los minutos de filmación se observaron objetos de procedencia humana. Este trabajo ha servido para evaluar los sistemas naturales presentes así como su estado de salud y se espera que los resultados obtenidos puedan ser usados para una futura gestión de esta zona costera.Palabras clave: cartografía bentónica, ROV, áreas marinas protegidas, NE costa catalana.

Sea pen (Pennatulacea) aggregations on the northern Spanish shelf: distribution and faunal assemblages

“…The few aggregations of P. spinosum and V. cynomorium were found at about 50 m depth, although some specimens were recorded at unusual depths in the area if compared with data in the literature (Supplementary Material Table S1). We found that 70% of the occurrences of V. cynomorium in our study area were detected above 100 m and three colonies were even found at an unusual depth of 372 m, despite the fact that these two species are known to be continental-shelf species with a distribution related to terrigenous sediments (Gili and Pagès 1987, Williams 2011, Sardá et al 2012. López-González et al (2001) reported, in the eastern Atlantic, a wider depth range (25-188 m) than Williams (1990, 13-91 m), and Gili and Pagès (1987) showed an even deeper limit in the Mediterranean Sea (around 260 m).…”

Spatial assessment of artisanal fisheries and their potential impact on the seabed: the Cap de Creus regional case study (northwestern Mediterranean Sea)

“…Since 2003, the benthic habitats of the Cap de Creus (littoral zone, continental shelf and submarine canyon) have been studied (Orejas and Gili 2009, Gili et al 2011, Sardá et al 2012. Several European (INTER-REG, HERMES) and national (DEEPCORAL) projects have provided the basis for a better understanding of the ecology in the area.…”

“…During the evaluation phase of the Cap de Creus region to assess its potential interest for conservation, recorded images from remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and manned submersibles were used. High abundance of cables and abandoned fishing gears was observed in the videos, demonstrating a high impact of these fishing activities on the littoral zone, continental shelf and slope (Gili et al 2011, Sardá et al 2012.…”

“…One of its main management principles is to use scientific knowledge, so we started a rigorous analysis to determine the state of the Cap de Creus benthic habitats (Gómez et al 2006, Orejas and Gili 2009, Gili et al 2011, Sardá et al 2012, including fishing gear pressure on them, in the best possible way. A spatial fisheries data map was needed to gain a comprehensive view on the usage and distribution of the artisanal fishing effort on this future Natura 2000 MPA area.…”

Coastal and marine geomorphology between Albenga and Savona(NW Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

“…Cartography not only represents the spatial location of marine habitats and geomorphic features (Miccadei, Orru, Piacentini, Mascioli, & Puliga, 2012;Rovere et al, 2010;Sardá, Rossi, Martí, & Gili, 2012), but also allows, through the use of geographic information systems (GIS), the modeling of different management scenarios (Fraschetti et al, 2005;Montefalcone et al, 2013;Parravicini et al, 2012;Vassallo, Paoli, Rovere, & Montefalcone, 2013). Mapping of terrestrial information is largely reported in the literature (Finn, 2011;López-García & Guzmán, 2010;Rose & Smith, 2008;Sahlin & Glasser, 2008), and takes advantage of numerous survey techniques such as satellite imagery, aerial photos, LIDAR or high-accuracy GPS (Bowles & Cowgill, 2012;Palamara, Dickson, & Kennedy, 2007;Storrar, Stokes, & Evans, 2013).…”