Document of bibliographic reference 324071

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Re-shifting the ecological baseline for the overexploited Mediterranean red coral

Abstract

Overexploitation leads to the ecological extinction of many oceanic species. The depletion of historical abundances of large animals, such as whales and sea turtles, is well known. However, the magnitude of the historical overfishing of exploited invertebrates is unclear. The lack of rigorous baseline data limits the implementation of efficient management and conservation plans in the marine realm. The precious Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum has been intensively exploited since antiquity for its use in jewellery. It shows dramatic signs of overexploitation, with no untouched populations known in shallow waters. Here, we report the discovery of an exceptional red coral population from a previously unexplored shallow underwater cave in Corsica (France) harbouring the largest biomass (by more than 100-fold) reported to date in the Mediterranean. Our findings challenge current assumptions on the pristine state of this emblematic species. Our results suggest that, before intense exploitation, red coral lived in relatively high-density populations with a large proportion of centuries-old colonies, even at very shallow depths. We call for the re-evaluation of the baseline for red coral and question the sustainability of the exploitation of a species that is still common but ecologically (functionally) extinct and in a trajectory of further decline.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000393999800001

Bibliographic citation

Garrabou, J.; Sala, E.; Linares, C.; Ledoux, J.-B.; Montero-Serra, I.; Dominici, J.M.; Kipson, S.; Teixido, N.; Cebrian, E.; Kersting, D.K.; Harmelin, J.-G. (2017). Re-shifting the ecological baseline for the overexploited Mediterranean red coral. NPG Scientific Reports 7: 42404. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep42404

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true