Document of bibliographic reference 324133
BibliographicReference record
- Type
- Bibliographic resource
- Type of document
- Journal article
- BibLvlCode
- AS
- Title
- Deep coral oases in the south Tyrrhenian Sea
- Abstract
- 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.
- WebOfScience code
- https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:000311821000130
- Bibliographic citation
- Bo, M.; Canese, S.; Spaggiari, C.; Pusceddu, A.; Bertolino, M.; Angiolillo, M.; Giusti, M.; Loreto, M.F.; Salvati, E.; Greco, S.; Bavestrello, G. (2012). Deep coral oases in the south Tyrrhenian Sea. PLoS One 7(11): e49870. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049870
- Topic
- Marine
- Is peer reviewed
- true
- Access rights
- open access
- Is accessible for free
- true
Authors
- author
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- Name
- Marzia Bo
- author
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- Name
- Simonepietro Canese
- author
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- Name
- Costanza Spaggiari
- author
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- Name
- Antonio Pusceddu
- author
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- Name
- Marco Bertolino
- author
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- Name
- Michela Angiolillo
- author
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- Name
- Michela Giusti
- author
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- Name
- Maria Loreto
- author
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- Name
- Eva Salvati
- author
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- Name
- Silvestro Greco
- author
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- Name
- Giorgio Bavestrello