Coralligenous and maërl habitats: predictive modelling to identify their spatial distributions across the Mediterranean Sea
| Type | Article | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 2014-05 | ||||||||
| Language | English | ||||||||
| Author(s) | Martin C. S.1, 2, Giannoulaki M.1, de Leo F.3, Scardi M.4, Salomidi M.5, Knitweiss L.6, Pace M. L.7, Garofalo G.8, Gristina M.8, Ballesteros E.9, Bavestrello G.10, Belluscio A.11, Cebrian E.9, 12, Gerakaris V.5, Pergent G.13, Pergent-Martini C.13, Schembri P. J.6, Terribile K.6, Rizzo L.3, Ben Souissi J.14, Bonacorsi M.13, Guarnieri G.3, Krzelj M.15, Macic V.16, Punzo E.17, Valavanis V.1, Fraschetti S.3 | ||||||||
| Affiliation(s) | 1 : Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, PO box 2214, 71003 Heraklio, Greece 2 : UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK 3 : Laboratory of Ecology and Marine Biology, University of Salento, CoNISMa, 73100 Lecce, Italy 4 : Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy 5 : Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine ResearchPO box 712, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece 6 : Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida MSD2080, Malta 7 : Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Fisheries Resource Unit, Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change (MSDEC-FRU), Ghammieri, Marsa MRS 3303 Malta 8 : Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, National Research Council, 91026 Mazara del Vallo (TP), Italy 9 : Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes-CSIC, 17300 Blanes, Spain 10 : Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy 11 : Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Viale dell'Università, 32, 00185 Rome, Italy 12 : Departament de Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, 17071 Girona, Spain 13 : FRES 3041, EqEL, University of Corsica, Faculty of Sciences, BP 52, 20250 Corte, France 14 : Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia 15 : University Department of Marine Studies, University of Split, Livanjska 5/III, 21000 Split, Croatia 16 : Institute of marine biology, University of Montenegro, 85330 Kotor, Montenegro 17 : Institute of Marine Sciences, National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy |
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| Source | Scientific Reports (2045-2322) (Nature Publishing Group), 2014-05 , Vol. 4 , N. 5073 , P. 1-8 | ||||||||
| DOI | 10.1038/srep05073 | ||||||||
| WOS© Times Cited | 128 | ||||||||
| Note | Supplementary Material : http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140527/srep05073/extref/srep05073-s1.docx | ||||||||
| Keyword(s) | BIODIVERSITY, ECOLOGICAL MODELLING | ||||||||
| Abstract | Bioconstructions such as coralligenous outcrops and maerl beds are typical Mediterranean underwater seascapes. Fine-scale knowledge on the distribution of these sensitive habitats is crucial for their effective management and conservation. In the present study, a thorough review of existing spatial datasets showing the distribution of coralligenous and maerl habitats across the Mediterranean Sea was undertaken, highlighting current gaps in knowledge. Predictive modelling was then carried out, based on environmental predictors, to produce the first continuous maps of these two habitats across the entire basin. These predicted occurrence maps for coralligenous outcrops and maerl beds provide critical information about where the two habitats are most likely to occur. The collated occurrence data and derived distribution model outputs can help addressing the challenge of developing basin-wide spatial plans and to guide cost-effective future surveys and monitoring efforts towards areas that are presently poorly-sampled. | ||||||||
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