Document of bibliographic reference 405555

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Diversity and future perspectives of Mediterranean deep-water oyster reefs

Abstract

Anthropogenic and climate factors are increasingly affecting the composition and functions of many marine biogenic reefs globally, leading to a decline in associated biodiversity and ecosystem services. Once dominant ecological component, modern oyster reefs in the Mediterranean and Black Sea and the Atlantic Ocean have already been profoundly altered by overharvesting, habitat loss and the introduction of alien species. Far less known are deep-water oyster reefs, which can however form substantial biogenic structures below 30 m depth. Here we analyze the diversity of benthic assemblages associated with deep-water oyster reefs formed by the gryphaeid Neopycnodonte cochlear, and other mesophotic habitats in the central Mediterranean Sea using a taxonomic and functional approach. Our findings suggest that deep-water oyster reefs may act as hotspots of biodiversity and ecological functions in the Mediterranean Sea under current conditions, having also an edge in survival in a changing ocean.

Bibliographic citation

Castellan, G.; Angeletti, L.; Taviani, M. (2024). Diversity and future perspectives of Mediterranean deep-water oyster reefs. NPG Scientific Reports 14(1): 30651. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77641-x

Topic

Marine

Is peer reviewed

true

Access rights

open access

Is accessible for free

true