Unusual algal turfs associated with the rhodophyta Phyllophora crispa: Benthic assemblages along a depth gradient in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Bonifazi, Andrea; Ventura, Daniele; Gravina, Maria Flavia; Lasinio, Giovanna Jona; Belluscio, Andrea; Ardizzone, G.D.

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2016.12.013

Cited by 17 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…From the literature, the turf of the sciaphilic red alga P. crispa provides a complex habitat due to the algal architecture, supporting several algal and animal epiphytes as food of herbivorous and carnivorous gastropods, respectively [4,14]. Zaitsev [76] and Bonifazi et al [4] reported a rich and heterogeneous community characterized by more than 140 animal species in the Black Sea and in the Tyrrhenian Sea, respectively. Our results are consistent with these data, stressing the importance of the micrograzer B. latreillii and the predator Pusia savignyi as the main gastropods of the Phyllophora algal turf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…crispa is moderately common red alga which grows in sciaphilic habitats forming meadows or turfs. The vegetative growth of this species and the sedimentation rates likely contribute to the development of a dense twist of algal thalli, allowing for the rich presence of associated fauna and flora [4] which has recently been reported both in the Black Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea [12,13]. In the latter case, it develops mainly on hard bottoms, lying in proximity of coralligenous reefs [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Similarly, the knowledge of some algae-dominated habitats is still lacking, as in the case of Phyllophora crispa (Hudson) P.S. Dixon, 1964 sciaphilic assemblages in central Tyrrhenian Sea [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative Analysis of Mollusc Assemblages from Different Hard Bottom Habitats in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea

et al. 2019

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Composition, trophic structure, and species-substrate relationships of molluscan assemblages inhabiting different hard bottom habitats (Sabellaria alveolata reef, photophilic bottoms, Phyllophora crispa sciaphilic assemblage, and coralligenous bioconstruction) were studied in two different sites of the Tyrrhenian Sea. In particular, molluscs from the Sabellaria alvevolata (Linnaeus, 1767) reef and coralligenous concretion were investigated, testing the hypothesis that bioconstructions increase the diversity and abundance of associated biota compared to the surrounding habitats. A total of 3134 individuals belonging to the classes of Polyplacophora (5 species, 24 individuals), Bivalvia (39 sp., 2734 ind.), and Gastropoda (53 sp., 376 ind.) were identified. These three taxonomic groups showed different distribution patterns in the studied habitats. Multivariate analyses revealed significant inter-habitat differences in the composition of mollusc assemblages, especially between bioconstructions and the other habitats. S. alveolata and coralligenous host the highest rich molluscan fauna when compared to the neighboring hard bottom habitats characterized by photophilic and sciaphilic assemblages. The first ones were dominated by bivalve suspension feeders, mainly represented by sessile and sedentary organisms, which act as bio-constructors, bio-eroders, or simply inhabit the several microhabitats provided by the bioconstructions, while the second ones host a rich molluscan fauna dominated by gastropod grazers and predators. The present study increases the comparative knowledge of molluscan assemblages inhabiting habitats of littoral plans of the Mediterranean Sea, providing pivotal information regarding biodiversity of coastal zones.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Comparative Analysis of Mollusc Assemblages from Different Hard Bottom Habitats in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea

et al. 2019

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“…Another potential habitat-building species in the Mediterranean Sea is the fleshy red alga Phyllophora crispa (Dixon, 1964). In water depths below 20 m, the alga forms discontinuous mats of at least 5 cm thickness, mainly on rocky substrates, which can cover large parts of the seafloor (Bonifazi et al, 2017). A massive development of these red-algae mats lead to it becoming a dominant benthic habitat around the Island of Giglio since 2012 (Bonifazi et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fleshy Red Algae Mats Influence Their Environment in the Mediterranean Sea

et al. 2021

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In the Mediterranean Sea, the fleshy red alga Phyllophora crispa forms dense mats of up to 15 cm thickness, mainly located on rocky substrates in water depths below 20 m. Because of the observed density of these mats and some first observations, we hypothesize that P. crispa is a yet undescribed ecosystem engineer that provides a multitude of ecological niches for associated organisms along small-scale environmental gradients. Therefore, we conducted an in-situ pilot study in the Western Mediterranean Sea to assess potential influence of the algae mats on the key environmental factors water movement, temperature and light intensity. We comparatively and simultaneously measured in P. crispa mats, in neighboring Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, on neighboring bare rocky substrates without algae mats, and in the directly overlying water column. We used several underwater logging sensors and gypsum clod cards. Findings revealed that P. crispa significantly reduced water movement by 41% compared to the overlying water column, whereas water movement was not affected by P. oceanica meadows and bare rocky substrates. Surprisingly, P. crispa increased the water temperature by 0.3°C relative to the water column, while the water temperature in P. oceanica and on bare rocky substrates was reduced by 0.5°C. Light intensity inside the red algae mats was reduced significantly by 69% compared to the water column. This was similar to measured light reduction of 77% by P. oceanica. These findings highlight the strong influence of the dense red algae mats on some key environmental factors. Their influence is obviously similar or even higher than for the well-known seagrass ecosystem engineer. This may be a factor that facilitates associated biodiversity similarly as described for P. oceanica.

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“…This species has spread to the entire Mediterranean basin since 1990 (Nizamuddin, 1991;Klein and Verlaque, 2008) and was reported in Italian waters for the first time in 1993 at the Island of Lampedusa and at Baia di San Panagia (Alongi et al, 1993). C. cylindracea colonizes photophilic algae and Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows (Infantes et al, 2011) and algal turfs (Bonifazi et al, 2017), exerting profound impacts on local biological communities (Vázquez-Luis et al, 2009;Deudero et al, 2011;Rizzo et al, 2017) as it decreases αand β-diversity (Piazzi and Balata, 2008). Its higher invasive potential compared to Mediterranean macrophytes was tentatively explained with a more efficient antioxidant capacity (Cavas and Yurdakoc, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic, Chemo-Ecological and Sex-Specific Insights on the Relation Between Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) and the Invasive Caulerpa cylindracea (Sonder, 1845)

et al. 2021

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Biological invasions result in negative and unpredictable impacts on oceans worldwide. Non-indigenous macrophytes often synthesize secondary metabolites for defensive purposes and increased competition efficiency: this is the case of Caulerpa cylindracea, which has entered the Mediterranean Sea in 1990 and competed against local flora and fauna since. It was demonstrated that the white seabream Diplodus sargus (i) has included the algae into its diet, (ii) is subject to the peculiar Abnormally Tough Specimen (ATS) condition post-cooking, and (iii) suffers physiological and behavioral disturbances from caulerpin, one of the three major algal secondary metabolites. This paper confirms a feeding relationship between the fish and the algae, quantifies caulerpin accumulation in the liver, suggests a possible mollusk- and echinoderm-driven biomagnification, and highlights the fact that all ATS specimens were males. Multivariate analyses on a multi-biomarker panel reveals differential correlations to key cellular processes such as oxidative stress, metabolism, neurotoxicity, and lipid peroxidation as well as to condition indexes.

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Unusual algal turfs associated with the rhodophyta Phyllophora crispa: Benthic assemblages along a depth gradient in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Cited by 17 publications

References 55 publications

Comparative Analysis of Mollusc Assemblages from Different Hard Bottom Habitats in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea

Comparative Analysis of Mollusc Assemblages from Different Hard Bottom Habitats in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea

Fleshy Red Algae Mats Influence Their Environment in the Mediterranean Sea

Trophic, Chemo-Ecological and Sex-Specific Insights on the Relation Between Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) and the Invasive Caulerpa cylindracea (Sonder, 1845)

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