Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc Fauna
The endemic Mediterranean bivalve <i>Pinna nobilis</i> is a typical example of an autogenic ecosystem engineer in sedimentary environments, as it modifies the substrate, creates new complex 3D habitats and concentrates various species, thus increasing local biodiversity. Despite the sign...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/9/956 |
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| author | Simona Iannucci Rocco Auriemma Alessandra Davanzo Saul Ciriaco Marco Segarich Paola Del Negro |
| author_facet | Simona Iannucci Rocco Auriemma Alessandra Davanzo Saul Ciriaco Marco Segarich Paola Del Negro |
| author_sort | Simona Iannucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The endemic Mediterranean bivalve <i>Pinna nobilis</i> is a typical example of an autogenic ecosystem engineer in sedimentary environments, as it modifies the substrate, creates new complex 3D habitats and concentrates various species, thus increasing local biodiversity. Despite the significant loss of <i>P. nobilis</i> populations due to the epidemic mass mortality that occurred in several regions of the Mediterranean, including the northern Adriatic Sea, the numerous empty shells, still firmly anchored in the sediment, may continue to play the role of basibiont of this species. The persistence of this ecological function was here investigated on dead specimens of <i>P. nobilis</i> through the structural and functional study of the associated epibenthic mollusc community. A large number of mollusc taxa, characteristic of both infralittoral and sublittoral hard and soft bottoms, were identified in thirteen shells collected from four different sites in the Gulf of Trieste. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear separation between sites in terms of taxonomic composition, species abundance and biomass, with differences in expressed functional traits. Overall, considerable taxonomic and functional diversity was found, suggesting that the empty shells continue to provide a suitable habitat for a variety of molluscs that are closely linked to the surrounding environment and fulfil many different ecological functions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:52:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5e3b108a0e14fd38ebefd6f74780f01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:52:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d5e3b108a0e14fd38ebefd6f74780f012023-11-19T10:15:44ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-08-0115995610.3390/d15090956Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc FaunaSimona Iannucci0Rocco Auriemma1Alessandra Davanzo2Saul Ciriaco3Marco Segarich4Paola Del Negro5Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via E. Weiss, 2, 34128 Trieste, ItalyNational Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151 Trieste, ItalyNational Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151 Trieste, ItalyWWF AMP Miramare, Via Beirut 2/4, 34151 Trieste, ItalyShoreline Soc. Coop., AREA Science Park, Padriciano, 99, 34149 Trieste, ItalyNational Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151 Trieste, ItalyThe endemic Mediterranean bivalve <i>Pinna nobilis</i> is a typical example of an autogenic ecosystem engineer in sedimentary environments, as it modifies the substrate, creates new complex 3D habitats and concentrates various species, thus increasing local biodiversity. Despite the significant loss of <i>P. nobilis</i> populations due to the epidemic mass mortality that occurred in several regions of the Mediterranean, including the northern Adriatic Sea, the numerous empty shells, still firmly anchored in the sediment, may continue to play the role of basibiont of this species. The persistence of this ecological function was here investigated on dead specimens of <i>P. nobilis</i> through the structural and functional study of the associated epibenthic mollusc community. A large number of mollusc taxa, characteristic of both infralittoral and sublittoral hard and soft bottoms, were identified in thirteen shells collected from four different sites in the Gulf of Trieste. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear separation between sites in terms of taxonomic composition, species abundance and biomass, with differences in expressed functional traits. Overall, considerable taxonomic and functional diversity was found, suggesting that the empty shells continue to provide a suitable habitat for a variety of molluscs that are closely linked to the surrounding environment and fulfil many different ecological functions.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/9/956fan musselecosystem engineermolluscbiodiversityfunctional diversitybiological traits |
| spellingShingle | Simona Iannucci Rocco Auriemma Alessandra Davanzo Saul Ciriaco Marco Segarich Paola Del Negro Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc Fauna Diversity fan mussel ecosystem engineer mollusc biodiversity functional diversity biological traits |
| title | Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc Fauna |
| title_full | Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc Fauna |
| title_fullStr | Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc Fauna |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc Fauna |
| title_short | Can the Empty Shells of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> Maintain the Ecological Role of the Species? A Structural and Functional Analysis of the Associated Mollusc Fauna |
| title_sort | can the empty shells of i pinna nobilis i maintain the ecological role of the species a structural and functional analysis of the associated mollusc fauna |
| topic | fan mussel ecosystem engineer mollusc biodiversity functional diversity biological traits |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/9/956 |
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