Document of bibliographic reference 369188

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Amphipods in Mediterranean marine and anchialine caves: new data and overview of existing knowledge

Abstract

Marine and anchialine caves host specialized faunal communities with a variable degree of endemism and functional specialization. However, biodiversity assessments on this habitat are scarce, particularly in relation to small-sized cryptic fauna (such as amphipods), which often play a key role in benthic ecosystems. The present article compiles all records of marine and brackish-water amphipods inhabiting marine and anchialine caves along the Mediterranean basin, combining information extracted from a literature review with newly acquired records. A total of 106 amphipod species has been reported (representing approximately 20% of the Mediterranean amphipod species), mostly from the North-Western Mediterranean. Examination of new material from marine caves in Greece has yielded 14 new records from the East Ionian and Aegean Sea. Most of the reported species display wide ecological amplitude in terms of habitat and substrate preferences, feeding habits as well as bathymetric and geographical distribution. In contrast, only 17 amphipod species have been reported from marine-brackish waters in anchialine caves, predominantly represented by cave specialists with a narrow spatial distribution and distinct morphological traits. Our overall knowledge on amphipods inhabiting Mediterranean caves is far from complete so that new and valuable findings are expected to occur as new caves are explored.

WebOfScience code

https://www.webofscience.com/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001131281500001

Bibliographic citation

Navarro-Barranco, C.; Martínez, A.; Sempere-Valverde, J.; Chebaane, S.; Digenis, M.; Plaitis, W.; Voultsiadou, E.; Gerovasileiou, V. (2023). Amphipods in Mediterranean marine and anchialine caves: new data and overview of existing knowledge. Diversity 15(12): 1180. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d15121180

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true