Mediterranean Bioconstructions Along the Italian Coast

Abstract

Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures, regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral reefs are outstanding for their beauty, diversity and complexity, but analogous types of bioconstructions are also present in temperate seas. The main bioconstructions in the Mediterranean Sea are represented by coralligenous formations, vermetid reefs, deep-sea cold-water corals, Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs, coral banks formed by the shallow-water corals Cladocora caespitosa or Astroides calycularis, and sabellariid or serpulid worm reefs. Bioconstructions change the morphological and chemicophysical features of primary substrates and create new habitats for a large variety of organisms, playing pivotal roles in ecosystem functioning. In spite of their importance, Mediterranean bioconstructions have not received the same attention that tropical coral reefs have, and the knowledge of their biology, ecology and distribution is still fragmentary. All existing data about the spatial distribution of Italian bioconstructions have been collected, together with information about their growth patterns, dynamics and connectivity. The degradation of these habitats as a consequence of anthropogenic pressures (pollution, organic enrichment, fishery, coastal development, direct physical disturbance), climate change and the spread of invasive species was also investigated. The study of bioconstructions requires a holistic approach leading to a better understanding of their ecology and the application of more insightful management and conservation measures at basin scale, within ecologically coherent units based on connectivity: the cells of ecosystem functioning.

New sites expanding the “Sardinian cold‐water coral province” extension: A new potential cold‐water coral network?

“…Similar to what has been documented in the Apulian margin (e.g. Angeletti et al, ; D'Onghia et al, ; Mastrototaro et al, ), the Sardinian CWC sites documented here may constitute a “network”, defined as a group of sites performing a similar ecological role, altogether being tiles of a wider and more complex system (D'Onghia et al, ; Ingrosso et al, ).…”

Mediterranean Lithophyllum stictiforme (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) is a genetically diverse species complex: implications for species circumscription, biogeography and conservation of coralligenous habitats

“…, Ingrosso et al. ). Several bioconstructions produced by corallines have been described for the Mediterranean (Bressan et al.…”

“…, Ingrosso et al. ), among which coralligenous concretions are the best known and most studied. These habitats occur on subtidal Mediterranean rocky shores, where their overall extent is estimated to exceed 2,700 km 2 in surface area (Martin et al.…”

“…The role of the Mediterranean as a key area for the evolution of corallines has been highlighted by the recent discovery of the first freshwater species, Pneophyllum cetinaensis, from the river Cetina, Croatia (Zuljevic et al 2016). Furthermore, in the Mediterranean some species of corallines are bioconstructors that play an exceptionally important role as ecosystem engineers (Ballesteros 2006, Pezzolesi et al 2017, Ingrosso et al 2018. Several bioconstructions produced by corallines have been described for the Mediterranean (Bressan et al 2009, Ingrosso et al 2018, among which coralligenous concretions are the best known and most studied.…”

“…Furthermore, in the Mediterranean some species of corallines are bioconstructors that play an exceptionally important role as ecosystem engineers (Ballesteros 2006, Pezzolesi et al 2017, Ingrosso et al 2018. Several bioconstructions produced by corallines have been described for the Mediterranean (Bressan et al 2009, Ingrosso et al 2018, among which coralligenous concretions are the best known and most studied. These habitats occur on subtidal Mediterranean rocky shores, where their overall extent is estimated to exceed 2,700 km 2 in surface area (Martin et al 2014).…”