FN Archimer Export Format
PT J
TI A Well-Kept Treasure at Depth: Precious Red Coral Rediscovered in Atlantic Deep Coral Gardens (SW Portugal) after 300 Years
BT 
AF BOAVIDA, Joana
   PAULO, Diogo
   AURELLE, Didier
   ARNAUD-HAOND, Sophie
   MARSCHAL, Christian
   REED, John
   GONCALVES, Jorge M. S.
   SERRAO, Ester A.
AS 1:1;2:1;3:2;4:3;5:2;6:4;7:1;8:1;
FF 1:;2:;3:;4:PDG-RBE-MARBEC-LHM;5:;6:;7:;8:;
C1 Univ Algarve, Ctr Ciencias Mar, CCMAR, Campus Gambelas, P-8005139 Faro, Portugal.
   Avignon Univ, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD,IMBE,UMR 7263, F-13007 Marseille, France.
   IFREMER, UMR MARBEC Marine Biodivers Exploitat & Conservat, Bd Jean Monnet,BP 171, F-34203 Sete, France.
   Florida Atlantic Univ, Harbor Branch Oceanog Inst, Ft Pierce, FL USA.
C2 UNIV ALGARVE, PORTUGAL
   UNIV AIX MARSEILLE, FRANCE
   IFREMER, FRANCE
   FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIV, USA
SI SETE
SE PDG-RBE-MARBEC-LHM
UM MARBEC
IN WOS Ifremer jusqu'en 2018
   DOAJ
   copubli-france
   copubli-europe
   copubli-univ-france
   copubli-int-hors-europe
IF 2.806
TC 28
UR https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00314/42498/41877.pdf
   https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00314/42498/41878.pdf
   https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00314/42498/41879.pdf
   https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00314/42498/41880.pdf
   https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00314/42498/41881.jpeg
LA English
DT Article
AB Background The highly valuable red coral Corallium rubrum is listed in several Mediterranean Conventions for species protection and management since the 1980s. Yet, the lack of data about its Atlantic distribution has hindered its protection there. This culminated in the recent discovery of poaching activities harvesting tens of kg of coral per day from deep rocky reefs off SW Portugal. Red coral was irregularly exploited in Portugal between the 1200s and 1700s, until the fishery collapsed. Its occurrence has not been reported for the last 300 years. Results Here we provide the first description of an Atlantic red coral assemblage, recently rediscovered dwelling at 60-100 m depth in southern Portugal. We report a very slow growth rate (0.23 mm year-1), comparable to Mediterranean specimens. In comparison with most of the Mediterranean reports, the population reaches much larger sizes, estimated to be over one century old, and has a more complex coral branch architecture that promotes a rich assemblage of associated species, with boreal and Mediterranean affinities. Atlantic red coral is genetically distinct, yet mitochondrial analyses suggest that red corals from the Atlantic may have introgressed the Mediterranean ones after migration via the Algeria current. Our underwater surveys, using advanced mixed-gas diving, retrieved lost fishing gear in all coral sites. Besides illegal harvesting, the use and loss of fishing gears, particularly nets, by local fisheries are likely sources of direct impacts on these benthic assemblages. Conclusions We extended the knowledge on the distribution of C. rubrum in the Atlantic, discovered its genetic distinctiveness, and reveal a rich deep-dwelling fauna associated to these coral assemblages. These findings support a barrier role of the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition zone, but reveal also hints of connectivity along its southern margin. The results highlight the genetic and demographic uniqueness of red coral populations from SW Iberia. However, we also report threats to these vulnerable populations by direct and indirect fishing activities and argue that its protection from any mechanically destructive activities is urgent as a precautionary approach. This study advances our understanding of phylogeographic barriers and range edge genetic diversity, and serves as a baseline against which to monitor future human and environmental disturbances to Atlantic C. rubrum.
PY 2016
PD JAN
SO Plos One
SN 1932-6203
PU Public Library Science
VL 11
IS 1
UT 000368655300077
DI 10.1371/journal.pone.0147228
ID 42498
ER

EF