Laboratory of Experimental Ecology and Aquaculture, Department of Biology, Tor Vergata University, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
ARPAT, Environmental Protection Agency of Tuscany, A.V. Costa - Laboratory Sector - U.O. Biologia, Pisa, Italy.
Mar Environ Res. 2019 Mar;145:97-111. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.02.009. Epub 2019 Feb 27.
Sabellaria alveolata is an ecosystem engineer species capable of building bioconstructions, playing a key functional role in the shallow coastal ecosystems. S. alveolata reefs perform several ecosystem services, such as hosting a rich fauna and producing structures able to provide coastal protection. Despite their ecological role, these bioconstructions have been poorly investigated in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, the largest Mediterranean S. alveolata reef, located along the Latium coast, was recorded and an habitat mapping duly carried out. During a one-year study, the balance between reef status and associated fauna was investigated using a multidisciplinary approach, the different phases in the annual cycle of S. alveolata were detected and the reef's influence on the diversity of associated macrofauna was assessed. The retrograding phase was detected in September, due to the damages by trampling disturbance, while the growing phase began in March. The comparison with the fauna of the adjacent substrates was also performed, demonstrating that the reef supported a high diversity of associated fauna and qualifying the reef as a biodiversity hotspot. Aimed at improving knowledge of Mediterranean reefs, our study lays the basis for more effective management plans and protection strategies for the threatened biogenic habitats.
盘管虫是一种能够构建生物建筑的生态系统工程师物种，在浅海生态系统中发挥着关键的功能作用。盘管虫礁具有多种生态系统服务功能，例如容纳丰富的动物群和产生能够提供海岸保护的结构。尽管它们具有生态作用，但这些生物建筑在地中海地区的研究还很不完善。在这项研究中，记录了位于拉齐奥海岸的地中海最大的盘管虫礁，并进行了适当的生境测绘。在为期一年的研究中，采用多学科方法研究了珊瑚礁的状态和相关动物群之间的平衡，检测了盘管虫年度周期的不同阶段，并评估了珊瑚礁对相关大型动物群多样性的影响。9 月，由于践踏干扰造成的破坏，进入了衰退阶段，而 3 月开始了生长阶段。还与相邻基质的动物群进行了比较，证明珊瑚礁支持着丰富多样的相关动物群，并将珊瑚礁定性为生物多样性热点。本研究旨在提高对地中海珊瑚礁的认识，为受威胁的生物生境的更有效管理计划和保护策略奠定基础。
