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Database of sea fans spatial distribution in the northwestern Mediterranean sea

Sea fans (order : Alcyonacea) are the most remarkable and easily identifiable species of the subtidal hard substrate communities (Gili and Ros, 1985). From an ecological point of view, sea fans play an essential role (Gili and Coma, 1998) by increasing the biomass and the diversity of hard substrates (Mitchell et al, 1992; Ballesteros, 2006) via an umbrella species role providing habitat for small epifauna and a refuge for many fish (Ross and Quatrini, 2007). When their density is high enough, they form animal forests (sensu Rossi et al 2017) and become engineering species by modifying the level of turbulence and therefore of sedimentation of propagules in the benthic boundary layer (Chamberlain and Graus, 1975). In the shallow rocky habitats of the Mediterranean, five species of sea fans dominate: the white gorgonian Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1791), the orange gorgonian Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Esper, 1789), the yellow gorgonian Eunicella cavolinii (Koch, 1887), the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826), and the red coral Corallium rubrum (Linnaeus, 1758). Some of these species, characterized by long life span, have been included in the management plans of the Gulf of Lion Marine Protected Areas, with surveys for the monitoring of the demographic structure of E. Singularis (Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Aire Marine Protégée Agathoise) and C. rubrum (Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue). In parallel with these management-related surveys, some scientific studies on the demographic structure and ecology of P. clavata, E. singularis and C. rubrum, with the aim of documenting mass mortality events (Cerrano et al. al., 2000, Garrabou et al., 2001) have been undertaken in the Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, in the Parc National de Port-Cros, along the Côte Vermeille and Cap de Creus coast and in the Cinque Terre National Park (Garrabou and Harmelin, 2002, Torrents et al., 2005 ; Linares et al. 2008 Linares et al., 2010 ; Santangelo et al., 2011; Gori et al., 2011a ; Gori et al. 2011b; Rossi et al., 2008). The present database gathers two extensive inventory of sea fans populations performed between 2013 and 2015 in the Gulf of Lion and between 2018 and 2019 in the Ligurian Sea.

The same protocol was applied to estimate the population density of the five species in 585 stations. The 585 stations were defined a priori on a regular mesh mapping the main hard-bottom substrate units of the Gulf of Lion (Côte Bleue, Plateau des Aresquiers, Plateau du Cap d'Agde, Cap Leucate, Côte Vermeille), and surrounding the ports of Toulon, La Spezia and Bastia (Figure 1). The spacing between stations was varied from 100m to 800 m according to bathymetry steepness. Each station was geo-referenced from the surface and located on the sea bed with a mooring. Counts of individuals of the five species were made by scuba divers trained to species identification in four quadrats (1m x 1m), positionned at 5 m from the mooring along the sea bed, in the four cardinal directions. In total, the sampling required 1500 dives.

References

Ballesteros E. 2006. Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages: a synthesis of present knowledge Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 44, 123-195

Carpine C, Grasshoff M. 1975. Les gorgonaires de la Mediterranee. Bull Inst Oceanogr Monaco 71:1–140

Cerrano, C., Bavestrello G., Bianchi C.N., Cattaneo R. Vietti, S. Bava, C. Morganti, C. Morri, P. Picco, G. Sara S. Schiaparelli S. Siccardi A. & Sponga, F. 2000. A catastrophic mass-mortality episode of gorgonians and other organisms in the Ligurian Sea (Northwestern Mediterranean), summer 1999. Ecology Letters 3: 284–293.

Chamberlain J.J. A., Graus, R.R. 1975. Water Flow and Hydromechanical Adaptations of Branched Reef Corals. : Bulletin of Marine Science 25 (1): 112-125

Garrabou J., Perez T., Sartoretto S., Harmelin J.G., 2001. Mass mortality event in red coral Corallium rubrum populations in the Provence region (France, NW Mediterranean). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 217:263–272

Garrabou J., Harmelin G. 2002. A 20-year study on life-history traits of a harvested long-lived temperate coral in the NW Mediterranean: insights into conservation and management needs. J Anim Ecol 71:966–978

Gili, J.M., & Ros, J. 1985. Study and cartography of the benthic communities of the Medes Islands (NE Spain). Marine Ecology 6, 219–238.

Gili J.M. and Coma R. 1998. Benthic suspension feeders: their paramount role in littoral marine substrates. TREE 13 (8): 316-321

Gori, A., Rossi, S., Linares, C., Berganzo, E., Orejas, C., Dale, M. & Gili, J.M. 2011a. Size and spatial structure in deep versus shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis (Cap de Creus, Northwestern Mediterranean Sea)” Marine Biology, DOI: 10.1007/s00227-011-1686-7

Gori A., Rossi S., Berganzo E., Pretus J.L., Dale M.R.T., Gili J.M. 2011b. Spatial distribution patterns of the gorgonians Eunicella singularis, Paramuricea clavata and Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Cape of Creus, Northwestern Mediterranean Sea). Mar Biol 158:143-158

Linares C, Coma R, Garrabou J, Diaz D, Zabala M. 2008. Size distribution, density and disturbance in two Mediterranean gorgonians: Paramuricea clavata and Eunicella singularis. J Appl Ecol 45:688–699

Linares C., Bianchimani O., Torrents O., Marschal C., Drap P., Garrabou J., 2010. Marine Protected Areas and the conservation of long-lived marine invertebrates : the Mediterranean red coral. Marine Ecology Progress Series 402: 69-79.

Mitchell, N. D., Dardeau, M. R., Schroeder,W. W., Benke, A. C. 1992. Secondary production of gorgonian corals in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Mar Ecol. Prog. Ser. 87: 275-281

Ross S., Quattrini A. 2007. The fish fauna associated with deep coral banks off the southeastern United States. Deep Sea Research I (54): 975-1007.

Rossi S, Bramanti L, Gori A, Orejas C. 2017. An Overview of the Animal Forests of the World. In book: Marine Animal Forests, pp.1-26. SPRINGER.[DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-17001-5_1-1]

Santangelo G., Bramanti L., Rossi S., Tsounis G., Vielmini I., Lott C., Gili J.M. 2011. Spatial patterns of variation in recruitment and post-recruitment processes of the Mediterranean precious gorgonian coral Corallium rubrum. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. DOI: 10.1016/j.jembe.2011.10.030

Torrents O., Garrabou J., Marshal C., Harmelin J.G., 2005. Age and size at first reproduction in the commercially exploited red coral Corallium rubrum (L.) in the Marseilles area (France, NW Mediterranean). Biol Conserv 121: 391–397

Rossi S., Tsounis G., Orejas C., Padrón T., Gili J.M., Bramanti L., Teixidó N. and Gutt J. 2008. Survey of deep-dwelling red coral (Corallium rubrum ) populations at Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean). Marine Biology 154 (3): 533-545.

 
Citation proposal
GUIZIEN Katell (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - BRAMANTI Lorenzo (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - ROCA Jean-Claude (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls Sur Mer, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - HESSE Bruno (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls Sur Mer, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - BLOUET Sylvain (Ville d'Agde, Aire marine protégée de la côte agathoise, Agde, France) - CHARBONNEL Eric (Syndicat mixte du Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, Carry-le-Rouet, France) - PAYROT Jérôme (Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - FERRARI Bruno (Office Français de la Biodiversité, Parc naturel marin du Golfe du Lion, Argelès-sur-Mer, France) - BRICOUT Romain (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - LESCURE Lyvia (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - CHERE Edouard (Ville d'Agde, Aire marine protégée de la côte agathoise, Agde, France) - HARTMANN Virginie (Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - RIVOAL Ronan (Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - PLANQUE Jean-François (Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - CADENE Frédéric (Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - LAFFON Jean-François (Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - MONIN Marie (Syndicat mixte du Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, Carry-le-Rouet, France) - BRETTON Olivier (Syndicat mixte du Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, Carry-le-Rouet, France) - DUMONTIER Marc (Office Français de la Biodiversité, Parc naturel marin du Golfe du Lion, Argelès-sur-Mer, France) - LABRUNE Céline (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - FANFARD Sandrine (CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France) - CORNETTE Florence (Ifremer, SG2M-LGPMM, La Tremblade, France) (2022) . Database of sea fans spatial distribution in the northwestern Mediterranean sea. https://services.mspdata.eu:/geonetwork/srv/api/records/seanoe:86176

Simple

Date ( Publication )
2022
Date ( Revision )
2024-03-08
Other citation details
Guizien Katell, Bramanti Lorenzo, Roca Jean-Claude, Hesse Bruno, Blouet Sylvain, Charbonnel Eric, Payrot Jérôme, Ferrari Bruno, Bricout Romain, Lescure Lyvia, Chere Edouard, Hartmann Virginie, Rivoal Ronan, Planque Jean-François, Cadene Frédéric, Laffon Jean-François, Monin Marie, Bretton Olivier, Dumontier Marc, Labrune Céline, Fanfard Sandrine, Cornette Florence (2022). Database of sea fans spatial distribution in the northwestern Mediterranean sea. SEANOE. https://doi.org/10.17882/86176
Credit
This study was funded by the French National Program LITEAU IV of the Ministère de l’Ecologie et de l’Environnement Durable under project RocConnect - Connectivité des habitats rocheux fragmentés du Golfe du Lion (PI, K. Guizien, Project Number 12-MUTS-LITEAU-1-CDS-013) and by EC Interreg Marittimo program under project IMPACT – Impatto Portuale su aree marine protette: Azioni Cooperative Transfrontaliere (PI, M. Magaldi; Ecology Task Leader, K. Guizien; CUP B12F17000370005).

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France - GUIZIEN Katell  

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France - BRAMANTI Lorenzo  

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls Sur Mer, Banyuls sur Mer, France - ROCA Jean-Claude  

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls Sur Mer, Banyuls sur Mer, France - HESSE Bruno  

  Author

Ville d'Agde, Aire marine protégée de la côte agathoise, Agde, France - BLOUET Sylvain  

  Author

Syndicat mixte du Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, Carry-le-Rouet, France - CHARBONNEL Eric  

  Author

Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France - PAYROT Jérôme  

  Author

Office Français de la Biodiversité, Parc naturel marin du Golfe du Lion, Argelès-sur-Mer, France - FERRARI Bruno  

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France - BRICOUT Romain  

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France - LESCURE Lyvia  

  Author

Ville d'Agde, Aire marine protégée de la côte agathoise, Agde, France - CHERE Edouard  

  Author

Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France - HARTMANN Virginie  

  Author

Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France - RIVOAL Ronan  

  Author

Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France - PLANQUE Jean-François  

  Author

Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France - CADENE Frédéric  

  Author

Conseil Départemental des Pyrénées-Orientales, Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Banyuls sur Mer, France - LAFFON Jean-François  

  Author

Syndicat mixte du Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, Carry-le-Rouet, France - MONIN Marie  

  Author

Syndicat mixte du Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, Carry-le-Rouet, France - BRETTON Olivier  

  Author

Office Français de la Biodiversité, Parc naturel marin du Golfe du Lion, Argelès-sur-Mer, France - DUMONTIER Marc  

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France - LABRUNE Céline  

  Author

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France - FANFARD Sandrine  

  Author

Ifremer, SG2M-LGPMM, La Tremblade, France - CORNETTE Florence  

  Publisher

SEANOE  
Keywords ( Theme )
  • Gorgonians , spatial distribution , population density , NW Mediterranean Sea , Biological oceanography
ODATIS aggregation parameters and Essential Variable names ( Theme )
  • Benthic habitats
SeaDataNet Parameter Disciplines ( parameter )
  • Biological oceanography
Type de jeux de donnée ODATIS ( Theme )
  • Observational data
Use constraints
Other restrictions
Other constraints
Metadata language
English
Topic category
  • Oceans
N
S
E
W


Distribution format
  • XLS, XLSX ( )

OnLine resource
Quality controlled data  

Population density data - 63 KB

OnLine resource
DOI of the product  
OnLine resource
Seanoe  
Hierarchy level
Dataset
Statement
Individual bigger than 2 cm were counted in four quadrats (1m x 1m) by direct visual census in scuba diving. The four quadrats in each station are labeled North, South, East and West.

Metadata

File identifier
seanoe:86176   XML
Metadata language
English
Character set
UTF8
Hierarchy level
Dataset
Date stamp
2024-03-08
Metadata standard name
ISO 19115:2003/19139
Metadata standard version
1.0

  Point of contact

CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques, LECOB, Banyuls sur Mer, France - GUIZIEN Katell  
 
 

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