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

Canessa, Martina; Bavestrello, Giorgio; Trainito, Egidio

doi:10.1007/s12526-022-01313-0

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…This data is in agreement with the linear relationship between colony height and apexes number. A very similar fractal dimension (D = 1.58) was recorded for the gorgonian Leptogorgia sarmentosa 58 , 59 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

Canessa,

Trainito,

Bavestrello

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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The golden coral Savalia savaglia is a long-living ecosystem engineer of Mediterranean circalittoral assemblages, able to induce necrosis of gorgonians’ and black corals’ coenenchyme and grow on their cleaned organic skeleton. Despite its rarity, in Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro) a shallow population of more than 1000 colonies was recorded close to underwater freshwater springs, which create very peculiar environmental conditions. In this context, the species was extremely abundant at two sites, while gorgonians were rare. The abundance and size of S. savaglia colonies and the diversity of the entire benthic assemblage were investigated by photographic sampling in a depth range of 0–35 m. Several living fragments of S. savaglia spread on the sea floor and small settled colonies (< 5 cm high) suggested a high incidence of asexual reproduction and a non-parasitic behaviour of this population. This was confirmed by studying thin sections of the basal portion of the trunk where the central core, generally represented by the remains of the gorgonian host skeleton, was lacking. The S. savaglia population of Boka Kotorska Bay forms the unique Mediterranean assemblage of the species deserving the definition of animal forest. Recently, temporary mitigation measures for anthropogenic impact were issued by the Government of Montenegro. Nevertheless, due to the importance of the sites the establishment of a permanent Marine Protected Area is strongly recommended.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

Canessa,

Trainito,

Bavestrello

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This datum is in agreement with the linear relationship between colony height and apexes number. A very similar fractal dimension (D = 1.58) was recorded for the gorgonian Leptogorgia sarmentosa [58,59].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

Canessa,

Trainito,

Bavestrello

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The golden coral Savalia savaglia is a long living ecosystem engineer of the Mediterranean circalittoral assemblages, able to induce necrosis of gorgonians and black corals coenenchyme and grow on their cleaned organic skeleton. Despite its rarity, in Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro) a shallow population of more than 1000 colonies was recorded close to underwater freshwater springs, which create very peculiar environmental conditions. In this context, the species was extremely abundant in two sites, while gorgonians were rare. The abundance and size of S. savaglia colonies and the diversity of the entire benthic assemblage were investigated by photographic sampling in a depth range of 0–35 m. Several living fragments of S. savaglia spread on the sea floor and small settled colonies (< 5 cm height) suggested a high incidence of asexual reproduction and a non-parasitic behaviour of this population. This was confirmed by studying thin sections of the basal portion of the trunk lacking the central core due to the remains of the gorgonian host skeleton. The S. savaglia population of Boka Kotorska Bay forms the unique Mediterranean animal forest of the species. Recent important mitigation measures of anthropogenic impact are now temporary and minimal. Therefore, establishing an MPA is strongly recommended.

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Possible Population Growth of Astrospartus mediterraneus (Risso, 1826) (Ophiuroidea, Gorgonocephalidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Canessa

Betti²,

Bo³

et al. 2023

Diversity

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During the last decades, the number of observations of the basket star Astrospartus mediterraneus (Risso, 1826) in the Mediterranean Sea has significantly grown, thanks to SCUBA diver and ROV sightings, citizen reports, as well as particularly large catches by the artisanal fishery. Having been generally considered rare in many areas of the basin, such a long-term increase of records might assign to this basket star the putative role of a winner species in the context of climate changes. In the present study, we combined the overall literature information with the data available for the Ligurian Sea collected during extensive ROV campaigns conducted between 2012 and 2022 at a depth ranging from 20 to 123 m, to better understand the distribution and abundance of this species. The basket star was observed in almost the whole explored bathymetric range living on gorgonians (Eunicella cavolini, E. verrucosa, Paramuricea clavata, and Leptogorgia sarmentosa) and massive sponges (Aplysina cavernicola, Sarcotragus foetidus, Spongia lamella, and Axinella polypoides). In the considered period, the number of recorded specimens did not show a clear trend, but differences emerged over years and months. These variations were strongly correlated with rainfall amounts that, in oligotrophic waters, such as those of the Ligurian Sea, represent an important input of organic matter for these passive filter feeders, especially in the summertime.

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

Cited by 3 publications

References 61 publications

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

Possible Population Growth of Astrospartus mediterraneus (Risso, 1826) (Ophiuroidea, Gorgonocephalidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

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