Coralligenous assemblages differ between limestone and granite: A case study at the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (NE Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea)

Canessa, Martina; Bavestrello, Giorgio; Bo, Marzia; Trainito, Egidio; Panzalis, Pier; Navone, Augusto; Caragnano, Annalisa; Betti, Federico; Cattaneo‐Vietti, Riccardo

doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101159

Cited by 17 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…A second conclusion picks up on the pivotal role of epilithic corallines in the colonization of rocky substrates. Canessa et al (2020) have demonstrated a strong preference of these macroalgae for calcareous substrates, and it is possible to hypothesize that their settling affects the following phases of colonization producing a Fig. 4.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this situation, some conclusions previously obtained about the influence of rock composition on the development of benthic communities could be biased by the interference due to the coralline coverage. It was, in fact, generally stated that, when comparing benthic communities settled on limestone and granite, the latter is less abundant in species diversity and the bio-coverage is lower (Bavestrello et al ., 2000; Canessa et al ., 2020). The present study was planned to evaluate, in the field, the direct effect of limestone and granite on the settling and development of zoobenthic species, without the influence of the epilithic crustose corallines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lithological characteristics of the substrate may influence the richness and dynamics of hard-bottom benthic assemblages (Cerrano et al ., 1999; Bavestrello et al ., 2000, 2018; Cattaneo-Vietti et al ., 2002; Faimali et al ., 2004; Johansen, 2018; Canessa et al ., 2019, 2020). In fact, under comparable edaphic conditions, several communities were found to be structurally different on substrates of different lithology, in terms of presence and abundance of some sessile species (Coombes, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the subtidal zone of the Mediterranean, the species richness of sponges, anthozoans, serpulids and sessile gastropods living on hard bottoms characterized by different lithologies showed differences in density or covering capacity (Cattaneo-Vietti et al ., 2002; Bavestrello et al ., 2003; Schiaparelli et al ., 2003; Guidetti et al ., 2004). For example, in coralligenous habitats of north-east Sardinia, some sponges ( Axinella sp., Axinella polypoides and Sarcotragus foetidus ), although present on both granite and carbonate, showed a clear preference for granite (Canessa et al ., 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comparing the development of calcareous algae on two contiguous ophiolitic rocks in the upper tidal zone, it was evident that Neogoniolithon brassica-florida was only present on serpentinites, while virtually absent on metagabbros (Bavestrello et al ., 2018). Moreover, in subtidal habitats within the area of Tavolara Island (north-east Sardinia), the thickness of the crustose calcareous red algae was higher on limestone rocks than on granite ones (Canessa et al ., 2020). Here, it is possible that two different genotypes of ‘ Lithophyllum stictiforme’ colonized these two different lithotypes, as stated by Pezzolesi et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lithology could affect benthic communities living below boulders

Canessa

Bavestrello

Trainito³

et al. 2020

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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Structure and diversity of sessile zoobenthic assemblages seem to be driven not only by chemical-physical constraints and biological interactions but also by substrate lithology and its surface features. Nevertheless, broadly distributed crustose epilithic corallines could mask the role of substrate on animal settling. To evaluate the direct influence of different rocky substrates, occurrence and coverage of several sessile species, growing on the dark (i.e. coralline-free) face of sublittoral limestone and granite boulders were compared in the Tavolara MPA (Mediterranean Sea). The analysis of photographic samples demonstrated significant differences in terms of species composition and coverage, according to lithology. Moreover, limestone boulders were widely bare, while the cover per cent was almost total on granite. The leading cause of observed patterns could be the different level of dissolution of the two types of rocks, due to their different mineral composition and textural characteristics. Limestone has previously been shown to have higher dissolution compared with granite, and consequently, a more unstable surface. Our results suggest that, in dark habitats, the absence of the crustose coralline layer allows more rock dissolution and consequent lower stability of the limestone compared with granite, which, in turn, reduces the zoobenthos colonization.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Lithology could affect benthic communities living below boulders

Canessa

Bavestrello

Trainito³

et al. 2020

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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The effect of substrate and depth on hydroid assemblages: a comparison between two islands of the Tuscan Archipelago (Tyrrhenian Sea)

et al. 2022

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Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in NE Sardinia (Mediterranean Sea): distribution and growth patterns

2023

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Distribution and occurrence data of the sea fan Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Esper, 1791) in the Mediterranean Sea were updated thanks to new photographic surveys, highlighting the presence of the species off NE Sardinia and, in particular, in the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (TPCCMPA). The estimated average distance among colonies strongly suggests that they are not able to sexually reproduce and that they probably can be considered a sterile pseudo-population supported by inputs of larvae from the Italian mainland coast towards Sardinia. The putative conveyor belt for larval input to this area is a small permanent gyre (the North-Tyrrhenian Gyre) counterclockwise moving from the Italian to the Sardinian coasts. In TPCCMPA, the growth of one colony settled at 30 m depth was investigated across 7 years (2016–2022). The morphometric parameters indicated a linear development of the colony, in terms of branch development and 3D complexity estimated through the fractal dimension. The observed growth rates were not regular but were reached through a highly variable positive and negative oscillation. A significant correlation was obtained between growth rate and average Autumn and Winter water temperature, suggesting that somatic growth occurs in these periods. In the context of long-lasting elevated seawater temperatures and local damage linked to fishing activities, L. sarmentosa was confirmed to be a resilient species compared with other erect seascape components, like other gorgonians and sponges.

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Coralligenous assemblages differ between limestone and granite: A case study at the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (NE Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea)

Cited by 17 publications

References 27 publications

Lithology could affect benthic communities living below boulders

Lithology could affect benthic communities living below boulders

The effect of substrate and depth on hydroid assemblages: a comparison between two islands of the Tuscan Archipelago (Tyrrhenian Sea)

Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in NE Sardinia (Mediterranean Sea): distribution and growth patterns

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