First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea)
The Tremiti Islands Archipelago is located in the Central-Southern Adriatic Sea and is characterized by a strong karst activity. Due to their landscape, geological, hydrological, archaeological, and historical value, Tremiti Islands are considered a geomorphosite. We carried out a preliminary, non-d...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/5/213 |
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| author | Frine Cardone Martina Mazzetti Adelmo Sorci Andrea Cesaretti Roberta Cimmaruta Maria Flavia Gravina |
| author_facet | Frine Cardone Martina Mazzetti Adelmo Sorci Andrea Cesaretti Roberta Cimmaruta Maria Flavia Gravina |
| author_sort | Frine Cardone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Tremiti Islands Archipelago is located in the Central-Southern Adriatic Sea and is characterized by a strong karst activity. Due to their landscape, geological, hydrological, archaeological, and historical value, Tremiti Islands are considered a geomorphosite. We carried out a preliminary, non-destructive survey by studying the speleological and biological features of the submerged sea cave Elle, located at Cala Sorrentino (Capraia Island), representing an EU Natura 2000 Priority Habitat. Topographic (perimeter length, width, height, GPS location, depth) and hydrological parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, irradiance, water movement) were measured and its map was produced, based on morphological measurements and biological evidence. Species composition and biotic cover were investigated by image analysis. The benthic community was dominated by poriferans, together with remarkable assemblages of scleractinians and polychaete serpulids and clearly reflected the sharp light and hydrological gradients from the entrance to the cave bottom. Furthermore, different phases were hypothesized for the genesis of the cave during sea regression and flooding periods. To be signaled is the record of <i>Petrobiona massiliana</i>, a sponge was protected under both Barcelona and Bern Convention and of some individuals of polychaete Serpulinae, which are still under description. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:49:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eb7904562e1744858ff1fb3df8dec030 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:49:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-eb7904562e1744858ff1fb3df8dec0302023-11-23T11:12:23ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632022-05-0112521310.3390/geosciences12050213First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea)Frine Cardone0Martina Mazzetti1Adelmo Sorci2Andrea Cesaretti3Roberta Cimmaruta4Maria Flavia Gravina5Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Zoological Station “Anton Dohrn”, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, ItalyLaboratorio del Ma.Re., Via A. Vespucci snc, 71040 Foggia, ItalyInternational Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies (ISMEO), Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244, 00186 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyThe Tremiti Islands Archipelago is located in the Central-Southern Adriatic Sea and is characterized by a strong karst activity. Due to their landscape, geological, hydrological, archaeological, and historical value, Tremiti Islands are considered a geomorphosite. We carried out a preliminary, non-destructive survey by studying the speleological and biological features of the submerged sea cave Elle, located at Cala Sorrentino (Capraia Island), representing an EU Natura 2000 Priority Habitat. Topographic (perimeter length, width, height, GPS location, depth) and hydrological parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, irradiance, water movement) were measured and its map was produced, based on morphological measurements and biological evidence. Species composition and biotic cover were investigated by image analysis. The benthic community was dominated by poriferans, together with remarkable assemblages of scleractinians and polychaete serpulids and clearly reflected the sharp light and hydrological gradients from the entrance to the cave bottom. Furthermore, different phases were hypothesized for the genesis of the cave during sea regression and flooding periods. To be signaled is the record of <i>Petrobiona massiliana</i>, a sponge was protected under both Barcelona and Bern Convention and of some individuals of polychaete Serpulinae, which are still under description.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/5/213submerged cavesbenthic communitydark habitatcave morphologyspeleogenesiskarst system |
| spellingShingle | Frine Cardone Martina Mazzetti Adelmo Sorci Andrea Cesaretti Roberta Cimmaruta Maria Flavia Gravina First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea) Geosciences submerged caves benthic community dark habitat cave morphology speleogenesis karst system |
| title | First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea) |
| title_full | First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea) |
| title_fullStr | First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea) |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea) |
| title_short | First Speleological and Biological Characterization of a Submerged Cave of the Tremiti Archipelago Geomorphosite (Adriatic Sea) |
| title_sort | first speleological and biological characterization of a submerged cave of the tremiti archipelago geomorphosite adriatic sea |
| topic | submerged caves benthic community dark habitat cave morphology speleogenesis karst system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/5/213 |
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