scholarly journals Thread-like tentacles in the Mediterranean corals Paramuricea clavata and Corallium rubrum

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
PABLO J LOPEZ-GONZALEZ ◽  
LORENZO BRAMANTI ◽  
PABLO ESCRIBANO-ÁLVAREZ ◽  
MARIA-CARLA BENEDETTI ◽  
IRENE MARTÍNEZ-BARALDÉS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Corallium Rubrum ◽  
Paramuricea Clavata ◽  
The Mediterranean

The occurrence of modified tentacles (i.e. thread-like tentacles) in the Mediterranean octocorals Paramuricea clavata and Corallium rubrum is reported. Colonies of four species of Mediterranean gorgonians were maintained in aquarium conditions for more than 5 months. The development of thread-like tentacles has been observed only in two of the four species. The presence of modified tentacles in other cnidarians has been usually associated with defensive/aggressive behavior. Our observations showed that thread-like tentacles in P. clavata and C. rubrum can also be used for feeding.

scholarly journals First report of chimerism in the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum)

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
BRUNA GIORDANO ◽  
LORENZO BRAMANTI
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Closed Circuit ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
First Report ◽  
Corallium Rubrum ◽  
Red Coral ◽  
The Mediterranean

The phenomenon of chimerism in the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum) is reported and quantified in semi-natural conditions. 1688 larvae were maintained in closed circuit in presence of a suitable settlement surface (marble tiles). Post settlement survival and chimera formation were monitored for 1 year. According to our observation, when polyps settle at close contact, a high frequency of chimerism is observed (32%). After 1 year, only 33% of chimeric individuals survived but they are 40% bigger than not chimeric ones, suggesting that chimerism could confer a competitive advantage linked to increased growth rate.

scholarly journals Population collapse of habitat-forming species in the Mediterranean: a long-term study of gorgonian populations affected by recurrent marine heatwaves

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1965) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Gómez-Gras ◽  
C. Linares ◽  
A. López-Sanz ◽  
R. Amate ◽  
J. B. Ledoux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Temperate Reefs ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Recovery Capacity ◽  
Paramuricea Clavata ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Density And Biomass

Understanding the resilience of temperate reefs to climate change requires exploring the recovery capacity of their habitat-forming species from recurrent marine heatwaves (MHWs). Here, we show that, in a Mediterranean highly enforced marine protected area established more than 40 years ago, habitat-forming octocoral populations that were first affected by a severe MHW in 2003 have not recovered after 15 years. Contrarily, they have followed collapse trajectories that have brought them to the brink of local ecological extinction. Since 2003, impacted populations of the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) and the red coral Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758) have followed different trends in terms of size structure, but a similar progressive reduction in density and biomass. Concurrently, recurrent MHWs were observed in the area during the 2003–2018 study period, which may have hindered populations recovery. The studied octocorals play a unique habitat-forming role in the coralligenous assemblages (i.e. reefs endemic to the Mediterranean Sea home to approximately 10% of its species). Therefore, our results underpin the great risk that recurrent MHWs pose for the long-term integrity and functioning of these emblematic temperate reefs.

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