Structure and biodiversity of a Maltese maerl bed: New insight into the associated assemblage 24 years after the first investigation

Deidun, Alan; Marrone, Alessio; Gauci, Adam; Galdies, Johann; Lorenti, Maurizio; Mirto, Simone; Sarà, Gianluca

doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2022.102262

Cited by 7 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…52 and 30 taxa, respectively) (Steller et al, 2003), but is comparable with that of deep RBs (50–90 m) off the Maltese Islands (i.e. 188 invertebrate taxa) (Deidun et al, 2022) and the shallow subtidal fringing reef RBs in Moorea French Polynesia (i.e. 177 cryptofaunal taxa) (Abrecht et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Invertebrate diversity associated with a shallow rhodolith bed in the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, south‐east Italy)

Pierri,

Longo,

Falace

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Rhodoliths, formed by free‐living coralline algae, are distributed worldwide, and the rhodolith beds (RBs) that they form are recognized as structurally complex habitats. In the Mediterranean, they are generally distributed in the mesophotic zone, at depths of 30–100 m; so far, only a few shallow RBs (<2 m) have been reported (e.g. Îles Kuriat, Tunisia, and Stagnone Marsala, Italy). Here a shallow‐water RB located in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (south‐eastern Italy, Mediterranean Sea) is described. The diversity of associated invertebrates, the rhodolith‐forming algal species, the type of sediments, and the bed extent are characterized. The RB investigated extends over 5 ha at depths of 0.5–1.5 m. The rhodoliths vary in shape and size, from pralines to large spherical structures, and are formed by a single species, Neogoniolithon brassica‐florida, growing around nuclei of both natural and anthropogenic origin. The associated fauna consisted of 158 taxa, 79 (50%) of which were new basin records. The associated diversity was approximately twice that of the underlying and nearby sediments. The structural complexity of the RBs promotes biodiversity and provides shelter, food, and a breeding ground for numerous species, including seahorses, which are a conservation priority in this basin.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Invertebrate diversity associated with a shallow rhodolith bed in the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, south‐east Italy)

Pierri,

Longo,

Falace

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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“…Sponges, cnidarians, echinoderms and fishes had the highest number of species in the present study, but these results are not directly comparable to those of other studies, given that the latter mainly focused on macrobiota collected through grab sampling, in contrast to the visual observation of megabiota in ROV footage used here. Only Deidun et al (2022) and Illa‐López et al (2023) conducted ROV surveys for megabenthic fauna, recording 6 and 119 different taxa, respectively, with echinoderms dominating in both cases. The present findings of 84 different megafaunal species corroborate those of Illa‐López et al (2023) and indicate that the diversity of megafauna associated with rhodolith bed habitats has been previously underestimated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the Mediterranean, crustaceans, polychaetes and sometimes molluscs are the main contributors to faunal diversity (Bordehore et al, 2003;Deidun et al, 2022;Maggio et al, 2022;Sciberras et al, 2009). Sponges, cnidarians, echinoderms and fishes had the highest number of species in the present study, but these results are not directly comparable to those of other studies, given that the latter mainly focused on macrobiota collected through grab sampling, in A rather impoverished non-coralline algal diversity was recorded from the southeast Malta rhodolith bed, dominated by Flabellia petiolata followed by Zonaria tournefortii, mirroring the current situation on the bed off the northeastern coast of Malta (Deidun et al, 2022). Significantly higher algal diversities with 117-165 species have been documented elsewhere (e.g., Bordehore et al, 2003;Mannino et al, 2002).…”

Section: Habitat Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The densities and morphologies recorded in the present work were similar to those found in other Mediterranean rhodolith beds. In common with the bed located off the northeastern coast of Malta (Deidun et al, 2022;Sciberras et al, 2009), rhodolith morphotypes D and E were the most T A B L E 1 Main megafaunal species recorded from the 25 stations that had rhodolith beds (mean cover of live rhodoliths >10%), together with their frequency of occurrence (% of stations in which taxon was present) and mean ± standard deviation (SD) abundance. S1.…”

Section: Habitat Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Habitat characterization, anthropogenic impacts and conservation of rhodolith beds off southeastern Malta

Tabone,

Knittweis,

Aguilar

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Rhodolith beds, including maerl, are structurally complex perennial habitats that support a high species diversity but are threatened by numerous human activities, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea. Despite their global ecological importance, increased research efforts are needed to facilitate development of effective measures to conserve these habitats. Two areas hosting rhodolith beds are known to occur off the coast of Malta (central Mediterranean), but only one has been previously studied. Through analysis of video footage collected from 56 different stations coupled with a desk study on human activities, the present study characterized the rhodolith bed located off the southeastern coast of Malta, including its extent, rhodolith morphotype composition, associated megabiota and impacts of anthropogenic activities thereon. The bed occurred at depths of 60–95 m and covered an area of approximately 200 km2, making it the second most extensive rhodolith area reported for the Mediterranean to date. It was dominated by spherical and branched rhodoliths whose cover reached a maximum of 74% but was more often <50%, similar to other Mediterranean rhodolith beds. A total of 84 different megafaunal species were recorded, suggesting that the diversity of megafauna associated with rhodolith bed habitats has been previously underestimated. A number of human activities, including extensive vessel anchoring and officially designated areas for aquaculture, bunkering and trawling, overlap with the mapped rhodolith distribution, highlighting the risk of habitat degradation. A holistic approach to the management of all the competing activities and interests relative to the southeastern coast of Malta that gives due consideration to this newly characterized rhodolith bed and the threats it faces is therefore recommended. The legal framework and policy recommendations for better conservation of rhodolith bed habitats in the Mediterranean and European Seas are also discussed.

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“…; the latter are represented by the Corallinales Lithophyllum racemus (Lamarck) Foslie, Lithothamnion corallioides (P.Crouan & H.Crouan) P.Crouan & H.Crouan, L. crispatum Hauck, L. minervae Basso, L. valens Foslie, Neogoniolithon hauckii (Rothpletz) R.A.Townsend & Huisman, Spongites fruticulosa Kützing, the Peyssonneliales Peyssonnelia crispata Boudouresque & Denizot, P. heteromorpha (Zanardini) Athanasiadis, P. rosamarina Boudouresque & Denizot, P. rubra (Greville) J.Agardh, P. squamaria (S.G.Gmelin) Decaisne ex J.Agardh, and the Sporolithales Sporolithon mediterraneum Heydrich, among others (Huve, 1954;Huve, 1956;Carpine, 1958;Jacquotte, 1962;Boudouresque and Denizot, 1973;Ballesteros, 1994). Free-living calcified macroalgae forming nodules of varied morphology, referred to as 'rhodoliths' (or more specifically 'maerl' in the case of branched growth forms), gave rise to a great interest among benthic ecologists (Sciberras et al, 2009;Basso et al, 2017;Deidun et al, 2022). Their conservation value is recognized under EU rules and international conventions (Barbera et al, 2003;Salomidi et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages

et al. 2023

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IntroductionCoastal detrital bottoms (CDB) are one of the most extensive habitats of the continental shelf worldwide, in the upper levels of the circalittoral zone. Hosting a diverse community structured by sediment grain size, trophic interactions and calcified organisms, CDB exhibit important ecological functions. In the Mediterranean Sea, CDB are constituted by recent elements partly provided by adjacent infralittoral and circalittoral ecosystems. Since the 2010s, the offshore extension of many Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has resulted in the incorporation of vast areas of CDB, raising the issue of their management. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has embraced the concept of an ecosystem-based approach involving taking into account the functioning of marine habitats and their related ecosystem services. The purpose of this paper is to propose an ecosystem-based quality index (EBQI) tested on CDB from the north-western Mediterranean Sea, focusing mainly on epibenthic assemblages.MethodsThe first step has been to define a conceptual model of the CDB functioning, including the main trophic compartments and their relative weighting, then to identify appropriate assessment methods and potential descriptors. Twenty-nine sites were sampled along the coast of Provence and French Riviera (Southern France). Study sites were chosen with a view to encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions and human pressures.ResultsVery well-preserved sites were found in Provence in areas without trawling and terrigenous inputs, while impacted and low-ES sites were located in the vicinity of urbanized areas. The cover of rhodoliths characterizes the seascape and might be an indicator of the good ES of CDB and reduced human pressure. However, the absence of rhodoliths may also be induced by natural phenomena.DiscussionThe EBQI designed for CDB proved representative and useful for a functional assessment based on epibenthic assemblages. However, some descriptors have shown their limitations and should be further explored. We highlight here the priority of establishing an index corresponding to a societal demand (e.g., European Directives, Barcelona convention) as a basis for a broad and large-scale assessment, for practical reasons. We stress the need to better apprehend the role of the macro-infauna and to extend this index over a wider geographical scale.

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Structure and biodiversity of a Maltese maerl bed: New insight into the associated assemblage 24 years after the first investigation

Cited by 7 publications

References 44 publications

Invertebrate diversity associated with a shallow rhodolith bed in the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, south‐east Italy)

Invertebrate diversity associated with a shallow rhodolith bed in the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, south‐east Italy)

Habitat characterization, anthropogenic impacts and conservation of rhodolith beds off southeastern Malta

Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages

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