Bathymetric distribution and growth rates of Eunicella verrucosa (Cnidaria: Gorgoniidae) populations along the Marseilles coast (France)

Gorgonians are important organisms in the Mediterranean Sea, where they form rocky benthic communities. Four main species (3 Holaxonia and 1 Scleraxonia) are predominant in infra- and circalittoral communities of the northwestern Mediterranean basin. Other species, such as Eunicella verrucosa (Pallas, 1766), are more rarely encountered. The expansion to unusually shallow bathymetric levels has been noted in the region of Marseilles (France) (between 20 and 40 m depth). A ten-year monitoring of colonies was used to assess the growth rate according to age (size): from 3.33 cm year(-1) (height <15 cm) to 0.62 cm year(-1) (height >40 cm).

Keyword(s)

Eunicella verrucosa, Mediterranean Sea, growth rate, population structure

Full Text

FilePagesSizeAccess
Publisher's official version
7646 Ko
How to cite
Sartoretto Stephane, Francour Patrice (2012). Bathymetric distribution and growth rates of Eunicella verrucosa (Cnidaria: Gorgoniidae) populations along the Marseilles coast (France). Scientia Marina. 76 (2). 349-355. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.03262.16B, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00087/19859/

Copy this text