Population dynamics and conservation biology of the over-exploited Mediterranean red coral

Santangelo, Giovanni; Bramanti, Lorenzo; Iannelli, Mimmo

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2006.08.027

Cited by 91 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…However, when a population faces selective mortality of its larger colonies (Garrabou et al 2001, Cerrano et al 2005, Santangelo et al 2007, precocious sexual maturity would increase population reproductive output and survival (Santangelo et al 2003, Gallmetzer et al 2010, Tsounis et al 2010.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, when subjected to overharvesting or mass mortality, which selectively affect larger colonies (Garrabou et al 2001, Cerrano et al 2005, Santangelo et al 2007, Cupido et al 2008, Huete-Stauffer et al 2011, the persistence of their populations could in large measure depend on sexual reproduction (Linares et al 2007b, Linares & Doak 2010. Under such conditions, reproductive rates, generally considered to have limited influence on long-term gorgonian dynamics, could become important factors in determining the recovery and recolonization capacity of local populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sexual structure of a highly reproductive, recovering gorgonian population: quantifying reproductive output

Cupido¹,

Cocito²,

Manno³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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A population of the Mediterranean red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata has exhibited unexpected resilience after being impacted by 2 anomalous mortality events in 1999 and 2003. To understand the recovery mechanisms, we examined the population reproductive structure and reproductive output based on data collected via non-destructive sampling techniques. The overall population sex ratio was balanced, though the spatial distribution of sexes was significantly segregated. Dividing the population into 14 size classes on the basis of their measured average annual growth revealed a decreasing monotonic trend of abundance of larger classes. The Recruitment class was consistently dominant. The minimum size at first reproduction was 8.5 cm in height, corresponding to an age of ~3 yr. The percentage of fertile colonies increased with size, reaching 90% in size Class 9. Polyp fecundity increased with colony size and did not differ signif- icantly between healthy and damaged colonies. As the number of mature oocytes produced by a colony is a function of polyp fecundity and of the number of reproductive polyps, colony reproduc- tive output increased exponentially with size. The population reproductive output (145 × 103 mature oocytes m−2 yr−1) was one-fifth of that measured in stable, undamaged populations and came mainly from the medium size classes. After the catastrophic mortality, the population has been recovering, albeit with reduced reproductive output. Moreover, it has exhibited a 2-fold increase in recruitment rate, 3-fold greater than that measured in other, undisturbed populations. Our findings are consistent with a strict density-dependent recruitment control operating in crowded, stable P. clavata populations

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual structure of a highly reproductive, recovering gorgonian population: quantifying reproductive output

Cupido¹,

Cocito²,

Manno³

et al. 2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In particular, the Calafuria population has been extensively studied in terms of demography, recruitment, early growth rates and genetics Santangelo & Abbiati 2001;Santangelo et al 2007Santangelo et al , 2012. Similarly, the distribution, size/age ratio, and sexual structure of a population living between 60 and 90 m NW off Elba Island, subject to historical and recent harvesting, have been also analysed (Priori et al 2013.…”

Section: Tuscany and Tuscany Archipelagomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The shallow-water populations (between 15 and 50 m depth), living in caves, crevices and overhangs, were overexploited only by scuba divers who, since the 1950s, were able to pick up colonies in habitats inaccessible to dredging (FAO 1988;Cicogna & CattaneoVietti 1993;Cicogna et al 1999;Garrabou & Harmelin 2002;Santangelo et al 2007;Vielmini 2009;Vielmini et al 2009;Tsounis et al 2010;Bramanti et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Available data from 1978 to present, as reported by several authors Liverino 1998;Santangelo & Abbiati 2001;Bruckner 2009;Cau et al 2013;Tsounis et al 2013), have been extracted from Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reports that were, in turn, provided by the red coral wholesalers and manufacturers . Information regarding the bank distribution along the Italian coasts was obtained from Gaetani (1867), Panceri (1871), Targioni-Tozzetti (1880), Colombo (1887), Parona (1898), Lo Bianco (1909, Mazzarelli (1915aMazzarelli ( ,b, 1931, Mazzarelli and Mazzarelli (1918), Peruzy (1923), Scatizzi (1935), Errico and Montanelli (2008), Cattaneo-Vietti and Bavestrello (2010), Gangemi (2011Gangemi ( , 2014, Santangelo et al (2007Santangelo et al ( , 2012, Priori et al (2013), Bramanti et al (2014) and Bavestrello et al (2014b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An overexploited Italian treasure: past and present distribution and exploitation of the precious red coral Corallium rubrum (L., 1758) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Cattaneo‐Vietti

Cannas

et al. 2016

Italian Journal of Zoology

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The aim of this paper is to supply an overview of all historical and recent knowledge on landings, fishing and geographic distribution of the red coral banks along the Italian coasts in order to make a contribution to the conservation and future management of this resource. Along the Italian coasts, the banks have been exploited for millennia, using non-selective trawling gear that was banned in Europe in 1994. Today, harvesting is allowed only by scuba divers and regulated by specific laws. We examined 153 years of history of coral fishing in Italy, from Unification (1861) to 2014. Data about the coralline fleets and the amount of coral landings were recorded for the considered span of time. From a quantitative point of view, the coral fishing in Italy in the last 150 years has been dominated by the sub-fossil coral reservoirs from the Sciacca Banks (Sicily Channel), where an extraordinary amount of 18,000 tons was collected in 34 years (1875-1888 and 1893-1914). This amount represents about 90% of all red coral harvested along the Italian coast in the last 150 years. Excluding this period, the average annual yield was initially around 100 tons, decreasing to 28 tons 100 years later, therefore demonstrating a severe overexploitation of the resource. The great part of the deep red coral banks was abandoned because harvesting was no longer profitable. Nevertheless, quantitative data suggest that red coral banks, even though overexploited, are still widespread along Italian coasts, mainly in shallow waters. These banks show a remarkable persistence although with a generalised shift towards smaller colony sizes and higher density. The time span necessary in recovering the pristine structure, following the end of the fishing activities, appears very long and the populations of several areas might be unable to re-colonise the old and overexploited banks.

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Conservation of Mediterranean habitats and biodiversity countdowns: what information do we really need?

Fraschetti

Guarnieri

Bevilacqua

et al. 2011

Aquatic Conservation

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ABSTRACT1. The relentless increase in both human activities and exploitation of marine resources is a threat to marine habitats and species.2. For marine systems, several protection initiatives have been outlined over the past decade to significantly reduce the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional, and national levels, and to establish representative networks of marine protected areas with the aim of protecting 10-30% of marine habitats.3. Reliable estimates of the total area occupied by each habitat are crucial to set adequate protection initiatives. Habitat mapping requires a sound habitat classification. Many classification schemes have been developed in different areas of the world, sometimes based on questionable criteria.4. A critical analysis of the most recent marine habitat classification list produced for the Mediterranean Sea from the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) showed that (i) 39% of habitats and associated species considered in the list are scarcely covered by scientific knowledge from Web-based resources; (ii) 62% of the species/genera included in the list are primary producers; (iii) quantitative information about the geographical distribution of selected habitats and associated species is scant; and (iv) when available, information is largely unbalanced and biased towards the shallow western Mediterranean Sea.5. Improved inventories of marine habitats are needed to support accurate and consistent mapping activities. The combination of large-scale mapping and sound habitat classifications will allow better estimates of biodiversity distribution, to reverse regional/global habitat loss rates through the achievement of conservation targets and deadlines that, for the moment, are systematically not met.

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Population dynamics and conservation biology of the over-exploited Mediterranean red coral

Cited by 91 publications

References 19 publications

Sexual structure of a highly reproductive, recovering gorgonian population: quantifying reproductive output

Sexual structure of a highly reproductive, recovering gorgonian population: quantifying reproductive output

An overexploited Italian treasure: past and present distribution and exploitation of the precious red coral Corallium rubrum (L., 1758) (Cnidaria: Anthozoa)

Conservation of Mediterranean habitats and biodiversity countdowns: what information do we really need?

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