Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests

Paoli, Chiara; Montefalcone, Monica; Morri, Carla; Vassallo, Paolo; Bianchi, Carlo Nike

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-17001-5_38-1

Cited by 14 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…These habitats provide various ecosystem services (e.g. food provisioning, recreational diving, research material) (Paoli et al 2016;Thierry de Ville d'Avray et al, 2019), yet they are threatened by global ocean warming and acidification (Martin & Gattuso 2009;Lombardi et al 2011;Martin et al 2013;Linares et al 2015; Rodríguez-Prieto 2016) and local human activities (e.g. fishing, anchoring or sewage outfalls) (Hong 1980;Ballesteros 2006;Balata et al 2005;Balata et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From seascape ecology to population genomics and back. Spatial and ecological differentiation among cryptic species of the red algae Lithophyllum stictiforme/L. cabiochiae, main bioconstructors of coralligenous habitats

Jode

David

Haguenauer

et al. 2019

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

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Ecosystem engineering species alter the physical structure of their environment and can create or modify habitats, having a massive impact on local biodiversity. Coralligenous reefs are highly diverse habitats endemic to the Mediterranean Sea built by calcareous benthic organisms among which Crustose Coralline Algae are the main engineering species. We analyzed the diversity of Lithophyllum stictiforme or L. cabiochiae in coralligenous habitats combining a multiple barcode and a population genomics approach with seascape features. Population genomics allowed disentangling pure spatial effects from environmental effects. We found that these taxa form a complex of eight highly divergent cryptic species that are easily identifiable using classic barcode markers (psbA, LSU, COI). Three factors have a significant effect on the relative abundances of these cryptic species: the location along the French Mediterranean coast, depth and Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR). The analysis of around 5000 SNPs for the most abundant species revealed genetic differentiation among localities in the Bay of Marseille but no differentiation between depths within locality. Thus, the effect of depth and PAR on cryptic species communities is not a consequence of restricted connectivity but rather due to differential settlement or survival among cryptic species. This differential is more likely driven by irradiance levels rather than by pressure or temperature. Both the genetic and species diversity patterns are congruent with the main patterns of currents in the Bay. Ecological differentiation among these engineering cryptic species, sensitive to ocean warming and acidification, could have important consequences on the diversity and structure of the coralligenous communities. Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available on the publisher Web site.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From seascape ecology to population genomics and back. Spatial and ecological differentiation among cryptic species of the red algae Lithophyllum stictiforme/L. cabiochiae, main bioconstructors of coralligenous habitats

Jode

David

Haguenauer

et al. 2019

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

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“…(Oprandi et al, ), and exhibit great structural and functional complexity (Paoli et al, ). Coralligenous reefs are an iconic submerged seascape (Bianchi, Catra, Giaccone, & Morri, ) and provide multifarious ecosystem services to humans (Paoli, Montefalcone, Morri, Vassallo, & Bianchi, ), but are vulnerable to either global or local impacts (Gatti et al, ; Gatti et al, ; Montefalcone, Morri, Bianchi, Bavestrello, & Piazzi, ; Piazzi, Gennaro, & Balata, ). They have therefore been included among the “special habitats types” that should be assessed under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive of the European Union (Bavestrello et al, ) and in the European Red List of marine habitats, where they are classified as “data deficient” (Gubbay et al, ), thus demonstrating the urgent need for thorough investigations and accurate monitoring plans (Ballesteros, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

STAR: An integrated and standardized procedure to evaluate the ecological status of coralligenous reefs

Piazzi

Gennaro

Montefalcone

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Coralligenous reefs represent one of the most important coastal ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea, and their ecological quality must be assessed under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to evaluate seafloor integrity. An effective standardized monitoring protocol is urgently needed in order to compare data at the Mediterranean scale and to plan efficient management and intervention programmes.2. This paper aims to: (a) review methods used to study shallow coralligenous reefs to propose a method able to optimize sampling effort; (b) select the most effective ecological descriptors to evaluate the responses of coralligenous assemblages to anthropogenic stress; and (c) synthesize available information in an integrated and standardized procedure.3. Ninety-five scientific papers dealing with shallow coralligenous reefs were found.Among these, 52 papers reporting detailed descriptions about sampling methods were selected to identify methodologies and ecological descriptors suitable for monitoring purposes.4. Downstream of the bibliographic review, an integrated and standardized procedure, named STAR (STAndaRdized coralligenous evaluation procedure), was proposed to assess the ecological quality of coralligenous reefs.5. STAR was tested on coralligenous reefs at 12 sites, six of them subjected to high human pressure and six located in areas characterized by low human pressure.6. Significant differences between the two conditions were detected for all the ecological descriptors selected, thus confirming the effectiveness of STAR in the assessment of ecological quality of coralligenous reefs.

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“…Rocky reefs are a quantitatively trivial fraction of the marine environment but hold a great scientific and economic importance (Bianchi et al 2004), as they represent a major reservoir of marine biodiversity and provide ecosystem services especially for fishery and tourism (Sala et al 2012;Paoli et al 2017). It is not a coincidence that virtually all the Mediterranean marine protected areas are established in correspondence with rocky coasts (Sala et al 2002).…”

Section: Rocky Reefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of the marine climate and ecosystem shift of the 1980-90s on the Ligurian Sea biodiversity (NW Mediterranean)

Bianchi

Azzola

Bertolino

et al. 2019

The European Zoological Journal

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A rapid temperature increase in the 1980-90s has been accompanied by dramatic and unprecedented changes in the biota and communities of the Ligurian Sea. This review uses existing historical series (a few of which have been purposely updated) to assess extent and consequences of such changes. A number of warm-water species, previously absent or occasional in the comparatively cold Ligurian Sea, has recently established thanks to warmer winters. Occurrence among them of invasive alien species is causing concern because of their capacity of outcompeting autochthonous species. Summer heatwaves, on the other hand, caused mass mortalities in marine organisms, some of which found refuge at depth. New marine diseases appeared, as well as other dysfunctions such as the formation of mucilage aggregates that suffocated and entangled benthic organisms. Human pressures have combined with climate change to cause phase shifts (i.e., abrupt variations in species composition and community structure) in different habitats, such as the pelagic environment, seagrass meadows, rocky reefs, and marine caves. These phase shifts implied biotic homogenization, reduction of diversity, and dominance by invasive aliens, and may be detrimental to the resilience of Ligurian Sea ecosystems. Another phase of rapid warming has possibly started in the 2010s and there are clues pointing to a further series of biological changes, but data are too scarce to date for proper assessment. Only well addressed long-term studies will help understanding the future dynamics of Ligurian Sea ecosystems and their possibilities of recovery.

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Ecosystem Functions and Services of the Marine Animal Forests

Cited by 14 publications

References 77 publications

From seascape ecology to population genomics and back. Spatial and ecological differentiation among cryptic species of the red algae Lithophyllum stictiforme/L. cabiochiae, main bioconstructors of coralligenous habitats

From seascape ecology to population genomics and back. Spatial and ecological differentiation among cryptic species of the red algae Lithophyllum stictiforme/L. cabiochiae, main bioconstructors of coralligenous habitats

STAR: An integrated and standardized procedure to evaluate the ecological status of coralligenous reefs

Consequences of the marine climate and ecosystem shift of the 1980-90s on the Ligurian Sea biodiversity (NW Mediterranean)

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