High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPA
The deep shoal of Punta del Faro (Ligurian Sea, Mediterranean Sea) is a mesophotic rocky elevation hosting complex animal forests threatened by fishing activities. To identify appropriate conservation measures and set a reference example for similar cases, we present a detailed characterization of i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Diversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/8/933 |
| _version_ | 1828715488975257600 |
|---|---|
| author | Francesco Enrichetti Giorgio Bavestrello Valentina Cappanera Mauro Mariotti Francesco Massa Lorenzo Merotto Paolo Povero Ilaria Rigo Margherita Toma Leonardo Tunesi Paolo Vassallo Sara Venturini Marzia Bo |
| author_facet | Francesco Enrichetti Giorgio Bavestrello Valentina Cappanera Mauro Mariotti Francesco Massa Lorenzo Merotto Paolo Povero Ilaria Rigo Margherita Toma Leonardo Tunesi Paolo Vassallo Sara Venturini Marzia Bo |
| author_sort | Francesco Enrichetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The deep shoal of Punta del Faro (Ligurian Sea, Mediterranean Sea) is a mesophotic rocky elevation hosting complex animal forests threatened by fishing activities. To identify appropriate conservation measures and set a reference example for similar cases, we present a detailed characterization of its megabenthic communities and a quantification of the fishing pressure. The results highlight the high natural value of the area, presenting high biodiversity (111 megabenthic and demersal species) and diverse types of animal forest, predominantly dominated by cnidarians. The tridimensional seascape is among the most complex in the eastern Ligurian Sea, but the long-term evaluation of its environmental status suggested consistent affects due to the high abundance of lost fishing gear (0.65 items m<sup>−2</sup>) directly entangled with structuring cnidarians. The artisanal and recreational fishing pressure are currently moderate. However, the use of bottom-contact fishing gear causes significant modifications to the seafloor’s integrity. This study emphasizes the high conservation value and vulnerability of the shoal, highlighting the importance of its protection through its inclusion in the Portofino MPA, whose external perimeter is 200 m from the study area. A critical discussion of the advantages and disadvantages is provided with a map of the possible extension of the MPA boundaries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:59:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-182ea2c53196405d8d5a6d05b789e5c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:59:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-182ea2c53196405d8d5a6d05b789e5c12023-11-19T00:49:50ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-08-0115893310.3390/d15080933High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPAFrancesco Enrichetti0Giorgio Bavestrello1Valentina Cappanera2Mauro Mariotti3Francesco Massa4Lorenzo Merotto5Paolo Povero6Ilaria Rigo7Margherita Toma8Leonardo Tunesi9Paolo Vassallo10Sara Venturini11Marzia Bo12Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyPortofino Marine Protected Area, Viale Rainusso 1, 16038 Genoa, ItalyPortofino Marine Protected Area, Viale Rainusso 1, 16038 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyPortofino Marine Protected Area, Viale Rainusso 1, 16038 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyInstitute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Via V. Brancati 60, 00144 Roma, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyPortofino Marine Protected Area, Viale Rainusso 1, 16038 Genoa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Corso Europa 26, 16132 Genova, ItalyThe deep shoal of Punta del Faro (Ligurian Sea, Mediterranean Sea) is a mesophotic rocky elevation hosting complex animal forests threatened by fishing activities. To identify appropriate conservation measures and set a reference example for similar cases, we present a detailed characterization of its megabenthic communities and a quantification of the fishing pressure. The results highlight the high natural value of the area, presenting high biodiversity (111 megabenthic and demersal species) and diverse types of animal forest, predominantly dominated by cnidarians. The tridimensional seascape is among the most complex in the eastern Ligurian Sea, but the long-term evaluation of its environmental status suggested consistent affects due to the high abundance of lost fishing gear (0.65 items m<sup>−2</sup>) directly entangled with structuring cnidarians. The artisanal and recreational fishing pressure are currently moderate. However, the use of bottom-contact fishing gear causes significant modifications to the seafloor’s integrity. This study emphasizes the high conservation value and vulnerability of the shoal, highlighting the importance of its protection through its inclusion in the Portofino MPA, whose external perimeter is 200 m from the study area. A critical discussion of the advantages and disadvantages is provided with a map of the possible extension of the MPA boundaries.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/8/933animal forests<i>Eunicella cavolini</i><i>Antipathella subpinnata</i><i>Lytocarpia myriophyllum</i>fishing impacttrammel net |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Enrichetti Giorgio Bavestrello Valentina Cappanera Mauro Mariotti Francesco Massa Lorenzo Merotto Paolo Povero Ilaria Rigo Margherita Toma Leonardo Tunesi Paolo Vassallo Sara Venturini Marzia Bo High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPA Diversity animal forests <i>Eunicella cavolini</i> <i>Antipathella subpinnata</i> <i>Lytocarpia myriophyllum</i> fishing impact trammel net |
| title | High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPA |
| title_full | High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPA |
| title_fullStr | High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPA |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPA |
| title_short | High Megabenthic Complexity and Vulnerability of a Mesophotic Rocky Shoal Support Its Inclusion in a Mediterranean MPA |
| title_sort | high megabenthic complexity and vulnerability of a mesophotic rocky shoal support its inclusion in a mediterranean mpa |
| topic | animal forests <i>Eunicella cavolini</i> <i>Antipathella subpinnata</i> <i>Lytocarpia myriophyllum</i> fishing impact trammel net |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/8/933 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT francescoenrichetti highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT giorgiobavestrello highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT valentinacappanera highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT mauromariotti highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT francescomassa highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT lorenzomerotto highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT paolopovero highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT ilariarigo highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT margheritatoma highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT leonardotunesi highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT paolovassallo highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT saraventurini highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa AT marziabo highmegabenthiccomplexityandvulnerabilityofamesophoticrockyshoalsupportitsinclusioninamediterraneanmpa |