Record of Ellisella paraplexauroides (Anthozoa: Alcyonacea: Ellisellidae) in Italian waters (Mediterranean Sea)

Angiolillo, Michela; Bo, Marzia; Bavestrello, Giorgio; Giusti, Michela; Salvati, Eva; Canese, Simonepietro

doi:10.1017/s1755267211000972

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(20 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This is probably because its typical bathymetric distribution (70–200 m) was very understudied in the Mediterranean until recently, being inaccessible to recreational scuba divers but too shallow for oceanographic campaigns (Orejas et al, 2019). Only recently, the availability of new high‐performance technologies at affordable costs and the development of technical diving allowed the study of these environments (Angiolillo et al, 2012; Giusti et al, 2012; Giusti et al, 2015; Kahng, Copus & Wagner, 2017). In fact, 13 of the 19 reports presented in this study were recorded by ROV or by technical divers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New contribution on the distribution and ecology of Dendrophyllia ramea (Linnaeus, 1758): abundance hotspots off north‐eastern Sicilian waters

Salvati

Giusti

Canese

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dendrophyllia ramea is a poorly known arborescent scleractinian coral, whose worldwide distribution is limited to the southern part of the Mediterranean basin, and to the Atlantic Ocean between Macaronesia and Gulf of Cadiz. The geographical distribution and abundance of D. ramea were herein updated, considering a total of 19 records, seven of which have never previously been reported in scientific papers. Between 2010 and 2017, five Remotely Operative Vehicle surveys carried out along the Sicilian coast recorded 89 colonies. No exhaustive data on density and ecology of this species have been published to date. Data for two areas off the north‐eastern Sicilian waters (Aeolian Island and Gulf of Patti) are reported, including the species’ bathymetric distribution, abundance, population density, colony morphometry, population size structure and surrounding habitat description. Size structure and density of D. ramea populations were compared with lost fishing gear density. Around the Aeolian Islands, where little lost fishing gear was observed, the D. ramea population was denser compared with the populations at two sites within the Gulf of Patti, where a greater amount of lost fishing gear was observed. The analysis of D. ramea size classes (single corallite, 2–5 polyps, >5 polyps) at different sites showed that impact varied with fishing gear typology: while lines damage the branches of larger colonies, nets can completely remove them. The limited distribution of D. ramea in some areas also makes this species very vulnerable to impacts such as changes in the chemical–physical characteristics and circulation of sea water. Dendrophyllia ramea is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the Mediterranean IUCN Red List, and it is listed in the Barcelona Convention (Annex B). Data on the distribution of D. ramea allows us to review the species’ classification and propose that its status be changed to ‘Endangered’.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New contribution on the distribution and ecology of Dendrophyllia ramea (Linnaeus, 1758): abundance hotspots off north‐eastern Sicilian waters

Salvati

Giusti

Canese

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Mediterranean mesophotic zone encompasses: i) various geomorphological zone and/or features (Gori et al 2017), like deep coastal areas (e.g. Cerrano et al 2010;Angiolillo et al 2012;Ledoux et al 2015;Fava et al 2016;Capdevila et al 2018;Idan et al 2018;Ponti et al 2018;Chimienti et al 2018b;Corriero et al 2019), continental shelf (e.g. Bo et al 2009;Salvati et al 2010;Bianchelli Figure 7.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems: gaps and perspectives of an emerging conservation challenge for the Mediterranean Sea

Cerrano

Bastari

Calcinai

et al. 2019

The European Zoological Journal

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mesophotic habitats, hosting benthic assemblages totally unknown and unexpected in the early 2000s, are attracting an increasing interest from scientists. Realizing that many long living and habitat forming species are playing a unique pocket of biodiversity in the frame of climate crisis, it is important to recognize the potential of the mesophotic zone in conservation strategies. The mesophotic zone is characterized by environmental factors generally more stable than the shallow counterpart; therefore, it represents a refuge habitat to preserve species that, in shallow waters, may be involved in bleaching events, massive mortalities or other pathologies generally triggered by thermal anomalies. The definition of the mesophotic zone in the temperate seas is confused, creating possible misunderstandings and problems not only from a scientific point of view but also in communication and outreach strategies. Here, we review the scientific literature to build the best definition possible based on the maximum consensus coming from papers analysis. Moreover, the key roles of mesophotic habitats, including ecosystem engineers as animal forests, have been schematized to enhance the perception of the potential risks we are running in case of damage or loss of these habitats.

show abstract

“…with the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) or technical diving, are much more recent. These studies, carried out using direct observational techniques, revealed the great species richness of the Mediterranean deep rocky circa-littoral environments which are characterized by a large variety and abundance of sponges and corals [4] , [5] , [7] , [8] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] . Among these biocoenoses, large benthic cnidarians can play an important ecological role; they are considered ecosystem engineers, creating complex three-dimensional habitats, sustaining high biodiversity levels and promoting high levels of functioning in both epi-benthic and proximal interstitial surroundings [7] , [23] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deep Coral Oases in the South Tyrrhenian Sea

et al. 2012

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A Mediterranean “roche du large” ecosystem, represented by four rocky shoals, located a few miles apart on a muddy bottom at 70–130 m depth in the gulf of St. Eufemia (Calabria, South Tyrrhenian Sea), was studied by means of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) photo imaging. The shoals host highly diversified coral communities, mainly composed of arborescent colonies of gorgonians (Callogorgia verticillata, Paramuricea clavata, Paramuricea macrospina, Bebryce mollis, Villogorgia bebrycoides, Corallium rubrum, and Leptogorgia sarmentosa), and antipatharians (Antipathella subpinnata, Antipathes dichotoma and Parantipathes larix). The coral colonies reach high densities (up to ca. 17 colonies m−2) and large sizes, such as the over 1.5 m wide antipatharian colonies. We hypothesized that the abundance and composition of the coral assemblages differed significantly among the rocky shoals and with respect to the surrounding soft bottoms. Various environmental variables were tested as possible explanatory factors of the observed differences. Moreover, due to their off-coast localization, we report here that these unique ecosystems are potentially subjected to a strong pressure from the local fishing activities, which were tentatively characterized. The recorded coral β-diversity among the shoals supports the hypothesis that these habitats behave like small oases of hard substrata interspersed in a muddy bottom. Because of their intrinsic beauty and rarity and their biological and ecological value, we stress the need of specific actions aimed at the urgent protection of these oases of biodiversity.

show abstract

Record of Ellisella paraplexauroides (Anthozoa: Alcyonacea: Ellisellidae) in Italian waters (Mediterranean Sea)

Cited by 16 publications

References 20 publications

New contribution on the distribution and ecology of Dendrophyllia ramea (Linnaeus, 1758): abundance hotspots off north‐eastern Sicilian waters

New contribution on the distribution and ecology of Dendrophyllia ramea (Linnaeus, 1758): abundance hotspots off north‐eastern Sicilian waters

Temperate mesophotic ecosystems: gaps and perspectives of an emerging conservation challenge for the Mediterranean Sea

Deep Coral Oases in the South Tyrrhenian Sea

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About