Author/Authors :
Mastrototaro، نويسنده , , F. and D’Onghia، نويسنده , , G. and Corriero، نويسنده , , G. and Matarrese، نويسنده , , A. and Maiorano، نويسنده , , P. and Panetta، نويسنده , , P. and Gherardi، نويسنده , , M. and Longo، نويسنده , , C. and Rosso، نويسنده , , A. and Sciuto، نويسنده , , F. and Sanfilippo، نويسنده , , R. and Gravili، نويسنده , , C. and Boero، نويسنده , , F. and Taviani، نويسنده , , M. and Tursi، نويسنده , , A.، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
The biodiversity of the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) coral bank is summarized and its description is updated using data collected by means of underwater video systems, benthic samplers and fishing gears. A total of 222 living species have been recorded within the coral bank area in the depth range 280–1121 m. The most abundant benthic taxa recorded are Porifera (36 species) followed by Mollusca (35) and Cnidaria (31). The scleractinian corals Madrepora oculata and Lophelia pertusa are the main colonial species in the structure of the SML bank. Annelida, Crustacea and Bryozoa have been found with 24, 23 and 19 species, respectively. A total of 40 species of demersal fish have been recorded. Other faunal taxa were found with small numbers of species. One hundred and thirty-five species are new for the SML bank, 31 of which represent new records for the north-western Ionian Sea (2 Porifera, 17 Cnidaria, 1 Mollusca, 3 Annelida, 2 Crustacea, 4 Bryozoa and 4 Echinodermata). The finding of the annelid Harmothoë vesiculosa represents the first record for the Mediterranean Sea. The SML coral bank represents a biodiversity “hot-spot” on the bathyal bottoms of the Mediterranean Sea.
Keywords :
Madrepora oculata , Mediterranean Sea , biodiversity , Deep-water fauna , White coral , Lophelia pertusa
