Spatial and temporal distributions of the sponge fauna insouthern Italian lagoon systems

Abstract

The present work focused on the taxonomic composition, spatial distributions, and temporal distributions of the sponge fauna from the main lagoon systems of southern Italy: Lesina, Varano, Taranto, Alimini, Faro, Ganzirri, Tindari and Marsala. Overall, 62 sponge species were recorded, belonging to the classes Demospongiae (52 species), Calcarea (8) and Homoscleromorpha (2). All the lagoon systems studied hosted sponges, even if with marked differences. Species richness varied from one (Lesina) to 45 (Marsala). A large number of the species recorded during this study (52%) was found only at a single site, whereas a species only (Halichondria (H.) panicea) was present in all the environments studied. Sponges colonised all available substrates. Salinity was the ecological factort hat best explained the spatial distribution of sponges, even though the wide heterogeneity of sponge assemblages, strongly suggests an important role of stochastic factors acting on pre- and post-settlement phases. Comparison of the present data with lists available from the literature shows that sponge assemblages from most of the studied lagoons were quite persistent. However, in some of the lagoons remarkable extinction processes, probably related to massive and prolonged anthropogenic pressures, have contributed to large changes in the sponge patterns.

Palaeoenvironmental significance of sponge spicules in pre-Messinian crisis sediments, Northern Italy

“…Geodia dominance in the Moncalvo sediments suggests a shallow-water palaeoenvironment. Today, the Geodiadominated sponge association is recorded in shallow, sheltered sites like the Stagnone of Marsala (Western Sicily) and the inlet of Porto Cesareo (Western Apulian Coast), characterised by moderate sedimentation and rich trophic conditions (Corriero 1987;Mercurio et al 2006;Longo et al 2016;Grech et al 2020), where large specimens of Geodia cydonium occur in very shallow waters (0.2-2.5 m). However, it cannot be ruled out that the spicules were transported by currents to the Moncalvo basin from shallower sites.…”

Distribution and habitat preferences of Hippocampus species along the Apulian coast

“…Brinton, ) . Therefore, it is probable that the variation of salinity values in lagoons also influences the distribution of the two seahorse species, although other parameters related to the morphology and degree of confinement, such as the openness and surface area of the lagoon, could have increasing importance (Longo et al, ).…”

Sponge community variation along the Apulian coasts (Otranto Strait) over a pluri-decennial time span. Does water warming drive a sponge diversity increasing in the Mediterranean Sea?

“…A large area of coralligenous outcrops characterizes the continental shelf in front of this stretch of coast (Bracchi et al ., 2015, 2017). This region, that accounts for more than 4% of the total Mediterranean sponge fauna (Sarà, 1960, 1969; Pulitzer-Finali, 1983; Corriero et al ., 2004; Longo et al ., 2015, 2017) was thoroughly surveyed in the period 1967–70 by Pulitzer-Finali (1983), particularly in the area of Tricase Porto (Otranto Strait). The rich Pulitzer-Finali reference collection (preserved at DiSTAV) of sponges offers a unique possibility to compare the present sponge fauna with that present in the same zone about 50 years ago, presumably before the onset of global warming.…”