Introduction: Cold-Water Coral communities in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. Submarine canyons are known as one of the seafloor morphological features where living cold-water coral (CWC) communities develop in the Mediterranean Sea. We investigated the CWC community of the two westernmost submarine canyons of the Gulf of Lions canyon system: the Cap de Creus Canyon (CCC) and Lacaze-Duthiers Canyon (LDC). Coral associations have been studied through video material recorded by means of a manned submersible and a remotely operated vehicle. Video transects have been conducted and analyzed in order to obtain information on (1) coral bathymetric distribution and density patterns, (2) size structure of coral populations, and (3) coral colony position with respect to the substrate. Madrepora oculata was the most abundant CWC in both canyons, while Lophelia pertusa and Dendrophyllia cornigera mostly occurred as isolated colonies or in small patches. An important exception was detected in a vertical cliff in LDC where a large L. pertusa framework was documented. This is the first record of such an extended L. pertusa framework in the Mediterranean Sea. In both canyons coral populations were dominated by medium and large colonies, but the frequent presence of small-sized colonies also indicate active recruitment. The predominant coral orientation (90° and 135°) is probably driven by the current regime as well as by the sediment load transported by the current flows. In general, no clear differences were observed in the abundance and in the size structure of the CWC populations between CCC and LDC, despite large differences in particulate matter between canyons.

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16 Cold-Water Coral Habitat Mapping in the Mediterranean Sea: Methodologies and Perspectives

Mediterranean Cold-Water Corals: Past, Present and Future - Coral Reefs of the World ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-91608-8_16 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 173-189

Author(s):

Lorenzo Angeletti ◽

Annaëlle Bargain ◽

Elisabetta Campiani ◽

Federica Foglini ◽

Valentina Grande ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Cold Water ◽

Habitat Mapping ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Water Coral

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Bathymetrical distribution and size structure of cold-water coral populations in the Cap de Creus and Lacaze-Duthiers canyons (northwestern Mediterranean)

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-9-19053-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 19053-19084 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. Gori ◽

C. Orejas ◽

T. Madurell ◽

L. Bramanti ◽

M. Martins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Cold Water ◽

Size Structure ◽

First Record ◽

Lophelia Pertusa ◽

Submarine Canyons ◽

Remotely Operated Vehicle ◽

Coral Colony ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Water Coral

Abstract. Submarine canyons are known as one of the seafloor morphological features where living cold-water coral (CWC) communities develop in the Mediterranean Sea. We investigated the CWC community of the two westernmost submarine canyons of the Gulf of Lions canyon system: the Cap de Creus Canyon (CCC) and Lacaze Duthiers Canyon (LDC). Coral associations have been studied through video material recorded by means of a manned submersible and a remotely operated vehicle. Video transects have been conducted and analyzed in order to obtain information on (1) coral bathymetric distribution and density patterns, (2) size structure of coral populations, and (3) coral colony orientation with respect to the substrate. Madrepora oculata was the most abundant CWC in both canyons, while Lophelia pertusa and Dendrophyllia cornigera mostly occurred as isolated colonies or in small patches. An important exception was detected in a vertical cliff in LDC where a large Lophelia pertusa framework was documented. This is the first record of such an extended L. pertusa framework in the Mediterranean Sea. In both canyons coral populations were dominated by medium and large colonies, but the frequent presence of small-sized colonies also indicate active recruitment. The predominant coral orientation with respect to the substrate (90° and 135°) is probably driven by the current regime as well as by the sediment load transported by the current flows. In general no clear differences were observed between the CWC populations from CCC and LDC, despite large differences in particulate matter between canyons.

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Polynoidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) associated with cold-water coral reefs of the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea

Zoosymposia ◽

10.11646/zoosymposia.2.1.13 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 149-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

DIETER Fiege ◽

RUTH Barnich

Keyword(s):

Coral Reefs ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Cold Water ◽

Northeast Atlantic ◽

Generic Status ◽

Identification Of Species ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Water Coral

An overview of polynoid scale worms known to occur on cold-water coral reefs of the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea is given, including a key for identification of species. Harmothoe oculinarum (Storm, 1879), H. vesiculosa Ditlevsen, 1917, and Leucia violacea (Storm, 1879) comb. nov. are redescribed. A lectotype is designated for H. vesiculosa and the generic status of Leucia violacea (Storm, 1879) comb. nov. and Neolagisca jeffreysi (McIntosh, 1876) comb. nov. are changed. The biogeography of the species is discussed.

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Trophic ecology of two cold-water coral species from the Mediterranean Sea revealed by lipid biomarkers and compound-specific isotope analyses

Coral Reefs ◽

10.1007/s00338-015-1325-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 1165-1175 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Malik S. Naumann ◽

Imma Tolosa ◽

Marco Taviani ◽

Renaud Grover ◽

Christine Ferrier-Pagès

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Trophic Ecology ◽

Coral Species ◽

Cold Water ◽

Lipid Biomarkers ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Isotope Analyses ◽

Water Coral

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New records of cold-water coral sites and fish fauna characterization of a potential network existing in the Mediterranean Sea

Marine Ecology ◽

10.1111/maec.12356 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 1398-1422 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Gianfranco D'Onghia ◽

Crescenza Calculli ◽

Francesca Capezzuto ◽

Roberto Carlucci ◽

Angela Carluccio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

New Records ◽

Cold Water ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Water Coral

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Macro- and megafauna recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic, Mediterranean Sea) using different tools

Mediterranean Marine Science ◽

10.12681/mms.1082 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 180 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

G. D'ONGHIA ◽

F. CAPEZZUTO ◽

F. CARDONE ◽

R. CARLUCCI ◽

A. CARLUCCIO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Endemic Species ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

New Records ◽

Cold Water ◽

Bathymetric Range ◽

New Information ◽

Coral Communities ◽

Water Coral

Macro- and megafauna were recorded in the submarine Bari Canyon (southern Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea) during an oceanographic cruise carried out in May-June 2012 and an experimental fishing survey conducted in November 2013. During the former, a total of 20 benthic samples were taken using a Van Veen grab at depths between 268 and 770 m and 4 deployments of a baited lander, for about 43 hours of video records, were carried out at depths between 443 and 788 m. During the latter, 8 longline fishing operations were conducted from 338 down to 612 m. Eighty-five living benthic and benthopelagic species were recorded: 29 Porifera, 1 Cnidaria, 2 Mollusca, 11 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 19 Bryozoa, 3 Echinodermata and 19 Chordata. A total of 51 species are new records for the Bari Canyon, 29 new records for the Adriatic Sea. Among the Porifera Cerbaris curvispiculifer is a new addition for the Italian Sponge Fauna. The first certain record of living specimens for the bryozoan Crisia tenella longinodata is reported. A total of 6 Mediterranean endemic species have been identified: 4 Porifera and 2 Annelida. The bathymetric range of some species has been extended. New information acquired for deep sea species confirms their importance in the structure of cold-water coral communities. This study has updated the knowledge on the biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea, as well as of the Bari Canyon in particular, one of the sites designated as “jewels of the Mediterranean” for which urgent conservation measures are needed.

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