Epibenthic communities associated with unintentional artificial reefs (modern shipwrecks) under contrasting regimes of nutrients in the Levantine Sea (Cyprus and Lebanon)

Artificial reefs, in the Eastern Mediterranean (Cyprus,) became a popular and frequently used tool, in fisheries and biodiversity conservation management. Even though evaluation studies about the efficacy of artificial reefs are plentiful in the rest of the Mediterranean (Central and Western), in the Eastern Basin they are largely absent. As the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea is characterised by unique physical parameters, the necessity to study artificial reefs under these contrasting regimes increases. The epibenthic communities of two unintentional artificial reefs (modern shipwrecks) in Cyprus (Zenobia) and Lebanon (Alice-B) were evaluated in 2010. Both shipwrecks are at similar depth, type of sea bottom, made of the same material (steel) and were sunk approximately the same period of time. However, Alice-B shipwreck off the coast of Lebanon is constantly exposed to higher levels of nutrients than Zenobia in Cyprus. Significant dissimilarities were observed in the composition, percentage of benthic cover of predominant taxonomic groups and development of the epibenthic communities. Differences in physical and chemical parameters between sides lay mainly in the nutrient and thermal regimes affecting the shipwrecks and most likely bring about the differences in the observed community structure. The results of this study suggest that epibenthic communities could be highly impacted by eutrophication caused by anthropogenic activities, leading to less biodivers

Living in close quarters: Epibionts on Dendrophyllia ramea deep-water corals (Cyprus and Menorca Channel)

In sharp contrast to shallow and/or tropical coral habitats, the role of deep-water corals (DWC) as habitat providers is not well known and even less understood. For this purpose, epibionts on the deep-water coral Dendrophyllia ramea were studied from samples collected in Cyprus and compared to those from Menorca Channel. A total of 63 species were found; bryozoans (ca. 60%) and serpulid polychaetes (ca. 10%) dominated the assemblage of species. Cyprus (48 species in total) and Menorca (22) corals shared few epizoic species (7). Several of these species were previously thought absent from the Levantine basin. These results are important contributions to the knowledge on the deep-water epibiotic biodiversity of the Levantine Basin and the Mediterranean Sea in genera

The Deep‐water corals of Cyprus: Environmental settings and ecological features (CYprus Cold‐corals Levantine SeA, Eastern MEditerraneaN: CYCLAMEN)

The recently started research project CYCLAMEN (CYprus Cold-corals Levantine SeA, Eastern MEditerraneaN), will conduct the first detailed study of cold-water coral communities in eastern Cypriot waters. Cold-water coral habitats have been found during exploratory surveys. The 2-yr long project will include the environmental characterization of the area, as well as the study of the spatial distribution of cold-water coral communities. In addition to the study of the biology of the coral species, genetic and eco-physiological studies will be included. This project is the first of its kind in Cyprus and will additionally have an associated scientific outreach programme in order to bring these ecosystems, still poorly known, to the general public. The project is led by the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), and relies on the participation of research Institutions in Cyprus: The Cyprus Institute (CyI) and the NGO Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre (EPERC); France: Aix-Marseille University – Mediterranean Institute for Biodiversity & Ecology (AMU-IMBE); Greece: The Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR); Mónaco: Centre Scientifique de Monaco (CSM); United Kingdom: National Oceanography Centre (NOC), and Spain: Universitat de Barcelona (UB). Here we present the conceptual frame of the project, the background knowledge and the first obtained results in the oceanographic cruise carried out in summer 2015

The “MetaCopepod” project: Designing an integrated DNA metabarcoding and image analysis approach to study and monitor the diversity of zooplanktonic copepods and cladocerans in the Mediterranean Sea

The timely and accurate analysis of marine zooplankton diversity is a challenge in ecological and monitoring studies. Morphology-based identification of taxa, which requires taxonomy experts, is time consuming and cannot provide accurate resolution at species level in several cases (e.g. immature stages, cryptic species, broken specimens). The “MetaCopepod” project is aimed at overcoming these limitations by developing a high-throughput and cost effective methodology that integrates DNA metabarcoding and image analysis. Utilizing the accuracy of DNA metabarcoding in species recognition and the quantitative results of image analysis, zooplankton diversity (mainly of copepods and cladocerans) is assessed both qualitatively (species' composition) and quantitatively (abundance, biomass and size-distribution). To achieve this goal, bulk zooplankton samples are first scanned and analyzed with ZooImage and then massively sequenced for a selected fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Through a bioinformatic pipeline, sequences are compared to a reference genetic database, constructed within the project, and identified at species- level. The methodology was calibrated by using both mock and taxonomically identified samples and demonstrated on samples collected monthly from monitoring stations across the Mediterranean Sea. It is currently optimized for higher integration and accuracy and is expected to become a powerful tool for monitoring zooplankton in the long term and for early warning of bioinvasions and other ecosystem change

Predicting Coastal Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen Levels by Applying Data-Driven Modelling: The Case Study of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

A surfeit of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN), which is defined as the total amount of nitrite, nitrate, and ammonium levels in water, may cause negative effects to the marine environment. For example, elevated levels of DIN may promote surplus production of algae and possible depletion of oxygen in the water column. The DIN in the marine water column is monitored as part of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Nitrates Directive and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Data-driven models have been proved to be an excellent management tool for environmental issues related to coastal water quality protection and management. Based on data-drive models, and specifically the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), the DIN levels from coastal stations in Cyprus were predicted. To do so, three different ANNs models were created, each of them calculating nitrite, nitrate, and ammonium levels respectively with high accuracy (r>0.95). The results derived from these models can be used to identify hot-spot areas with increased DIN levels and to evaluate management scenarios and measures to be implemented in order to maintain the good Environmental Status and quality of the coastal waters

Occurrence and distribution of the coral Dendrophyllia ramea in Cyprus

Occurrence and abundance of deep-water corals in the Levantine Mediterranean Sea is still largely unknown. This is the first attempt to quantitatively describe a Dendrophyllia ramea population discovered in June 2015 during the CYCLAMEN expedition on board the Research Vessel Aegaeo. This population is the deepest ever described until now in the Mediterranean and was found on the outer insular shelf off eastern Cyprus (Protaras, 35°02′N; 34°05′E). Video transects conducted by means of a remotely operated vehicle revealed a well-developed population of D. ramea located on a sandy seabed at 125–170 m depth. The highest density was 6 colonies m−2 and on average 1.6 ± 1.4 (SD) colonies m−2. The population consists of isolated or piled up branches of various sizes and large colonies, some ∼50 cm max width. The corals thrive on soft bottoms, representing a rather novel aspect of the research on D. ramea, since the species is still considered to be mostly associated with rocky substrates. The occurrence of the species in sedimentary grounds makes it especially vulnerable to bottom contact fishing gears as bottom trawling. Spatial distribution of the coral population, as well as a first attempt to characterize its habitat, are explored as an approach to describe the habitat's suitability and the vulnerability for the species in the are

Representative examples of epibenthic communities on the shipwrecks.

<p>A) Aggregations of serpulid polychaetes <i>(e</i>.<i>g</i>. <i>Rhodopsis cf</i>. <i>pusilla)</i> on dead coral skeletons <i>(Madracis pharensis</i>, <i>Phyllangia mouchezii)</i>, sponges, calcareous and green algae and ascidians; Zenobia, 34m depth. B) Live azooxanthellate <i>M</i>. <i>madracis</i> corals, branching bryozoans (e.g. <i>Caberea</i> sp.), brachiopods and other species overgrown by sponges, mostly <i>Chondrosia reniformis</i>; Zenobia, 36m depth. C) Large clusters of bivalves (e.g. <i>Chama pacifica</i>, <i>Pinctada imbricata radiata)</i> fouled by filamentous algae, ascidians and sponges; Alice-B, 32m depth. D) Pigmented and dead <i>M</i>. <i>pharensis</i> colonies on a calcareous structure within turf-algae, sponges and ascidians; Alice-B 32m depth. </p

Main characteristics of the Zenobia and Alice-B shipwrecks.

<p>Main characteristics of the Zenobia and Alice-B shipwrecks.</p

Coral species found at the shipwrecks.

<p>A) Percent contribution (mean + SD) of coral species to total live coral cover at the Zenobia (by sampling station and pooled together) and Alice-B shipwrecks; N = number of photo-frames were corals were present. Th = Thermistor; Cd = Car deck; St = Stacker; see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0182486#pone.0182486.g002" target="_blank">Fig 2C</a> for sampling stations at the wreck. B) Heavily fouled <i>Spondylus</i> sp. shell by calcareous species (e.g. <i>Caryophyllia</i> spp. corals). (C) An unusually elongated form of the coral <i>Phyllangia mouchezii</i>. (D) <i>P</i>. <i>mouchezii</i> fouling loose ropes. All photos from the Zenobia wreck, 25-40m depth.</p