Meiofauna densities and gastrotrich community composition in a Mediterranean sea cave

Todaro, M. Antonio; Leasi, Francesca; Bizzarri, Nicoletta; Tongiorgi, Paolo

doi:10.1007/s00227-006-0299-z

Cited by 49 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…However, some efforts were made in the past (i.e. Wieser 1954;Pesta 1959) and more recently (Palacin and Masalles 1986;Palacín et al 1992;Grimaldi de Zio et al 1982a, b;Villora-Moreno 1996;Sandulli et al 1999;Todaro et al 2006;Ape et al 2015;Janssen et al 2013). Several marine caves in the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Australia have been investigated for the presence of meiofauna.…”

Section: Meiofauna From Submarine Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From an evolutionary point of view, caves can harbour uniquely adapted organisms (Iliffe and Kornicker 2009;Juan et al 2010). In the Mediterranean Sea (Grotta Piccola del Ciolo, Ionian Sea), Todaro et al (2006) found very high meiofaunal abundance, with nematodes and harpacticoid copepods as the most dominant groups. Gastrotrichs, with 16 species, accounted for almost 3% of the total meiofauna.…”

Section: Meiofauna From Submarine Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characteristics of meiofauna in extreme marine ecosystems: a review

et al. 2017

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Extreme marine environments cover more than 50% of the Earth's surface and offer many opportunities for investigating the biological responses and adaptations of organisms to stressful life conditions. Extreme marine environments are sometimes associated with ephemeral and unstable ecosystems, but can host abundant, often endemic and welladapted meiofaunal species. In this review, we present an integrated view of the biodiversity, ecology and physiological responses of marine meiofauna inhabiting several extreme marine environments (mangroves, submarine caves, Polar ecosystems, hypersaline areas, hypoxic/anoxic environments, hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, carcasses/sunken woods, deep-sea canyons, deep hypersaline anoxic basins [DHABs] and hadal zones). Foraminiferans, nematodes and copepods are abundant in almost all of these habitats and are dominant in deep-sea ecosystems. The presence and dominance of some other taxa that are normally less common may be typical of certain extreme conditions. Kinorhynchs are particularly well adapted to cold seeps and other environments that experience drastic changes in salinity, rotifers are well represented in polar ecosystems and loriciferans seem to be the only metazoan able to survive multiple stressors in DHABs. As well as natural processes, human activities may generate stressful conditions, including deoxygenation, acidification and rises in temperature. The behaviour and physiology of different meiofaunal taxa, such as some foraminiferans, nematode and copepod species, can provide vital information on how organisms may respond to these challenges and can provide a warning signal of anthropogenic impacts. From an evolutionary perspective, the discovery of new meiofauna taxa from extreme environments very often sheds light on phylogenetic relationships, while understanding how meiofaunal organisms are able to survive or even flourish in these conditions can explain evolutionary pathways. Finally, there are multiple potential economic benefits to be gained from ecological, biological, physiological and evolutionary studies of meiofauna in extreme environments. Despite all the advantages offered by meiofauna studies from extreme environments, there is still an urgent need to foster meiofauna research in terms of composition, ecology, biology and physiology focusing on extreme environments.

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Section: Meiofauna From Submarine Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Meiofauna From Submarine Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of meiofauna in extreme marine ecosystems: a review

et al. 2017

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“…Bianchi et al, 1996;Todaro et al, 2006;Gerovasileiou and Voultsiadou, 2012;Bussotti et al, 2015). They urgently deserve specific conservation plans while being exposed to increasing threats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution patterns of marine cave fishes and the potential role of the cardinal fishApogon imberbis(Linnaeus, 1758) for cave ecosystem functioning in the western Mediterranean

Bussotti

Franco

Pey

et al. 2017

Aquat. Living Resour.

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“…This new record from Florida extends the range of this species 200 km southwards. Beyond the USA, this species has also been found in shallow waters in the Mediterranean Sea (Todaro et al 2006;Hummon 2010), which makes it another candidate for a putative cosmopolitan species of the genus.…”

Section: Pseudostomella Dolichopodamentioning

confidence: 99%