Basin-scale occurrence and distribution of mesophotic and upper bathyal red coral forests along the Italian coasts


Published: Jun 20, 2022
Keywords:
Corallium rubrum Mediterranean Sea relative abundance habitat preferences historical fishing banks
MARGHERITA TOMA
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4038-5673
MARZIA BO
RICCARDO CATTANEO-VIETTI
SIMONEPIETRO CANESE
MARTINA CANESSA
RITA CANNAS
FRINE CARDONE
LAURA CARUGATI
ALESSANDRO CAU
GIUSEPPE CORRIERO
MARIA CRISTINA FOLLESA
MARIA MERCURIO
SILVESTRO GRECO
FRANCO ANDALORO
GIORGIO BAVESTRELLO
Abstract

The analysis of 879 ROV dives carried out along the Italian coasts on hard substrata at mesophotic and upper bathyal depths (40-775 m) allowed us to evaluate the current basin-scale presence, relative abundance, bathymetric limits, and habitat preferences of one of the most charismatic Mediterranean habitat-former anthozoan species, Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758). The species is widespread, and its occurrence ranged from 13% of the explored sites in Ionian Calabria to a hotspot of approximately 80% in Sardinia. Population relative densities were generally low (< 10 colonies m-2), except along the Sardinian coasts and in some areas along the Apulian coast. Almost no red coral colonies were observed between 60 m and 590 m in the nine explored offshore seamounts in the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas. A distinctive coastal distribution discontinuity was found in the Ionian Sea. The optimum bathymetric distribution was between 75 m and 125 m, and no colonies were found below 247 m. Red coral colonies showed a preference for biogenic habitats dominated by crustose coralline algae (CCA) and vertical substrata. The species was absent on iron wrecks. Corallium rubrum disappeared from 14% of the historical fishing banks, while it was confirmed in 86% of them, some of which have been deeply harvested in the past. In particular, the still flourishing Sardinian populations could be supported by the high reproductive potential and favourable hydrodynamic conditions in the area.

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MARGHERITA TOMA, Università di Genova, Italy

Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita

MARTINA CANESSA, Università di Genova, Italy

Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita.

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