Estimation of mesospheric gravity wave momentum flux using Hybrid Doppler Interferometry

15th MST Radar WorkshopSession M6: Middle atmosphere dynamics and structureMay 31 (Wed), NIPR Auditoriu

Resemblance of sponge assemblages from cave zones (entrance-CE, semidark-SD, dark-D) of Mediterranean subareas.

<p>For abbreviations of Mediterranean areas see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039873#s2" target="_blank">Methods</a>.</p

Marine Caves of the Mediterranean Sea: A Sponge Biodiversity Reservoir within a Biodiversity Hotspot

<div><p>Marine caves are widely acknowledged for their unique biodiversity and constitute a typical feature of the Mediterranean coastline. Herein an attempt was made to evaluate the ecological significance of this particular ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea, which is considered a biodiversity hotspot. This was accomplished by using Porifera, which dominate the rocky sublittoral substrata, as a reference group in a meta-analytical approach, combining primary research data from the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) with data derived from the literature. In total 311 species from all poriferan classes were recorded, representing 45.7% of the Mediterranean Porifera. Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha are highly represented in marine caves at the family (88%), generic (70%), and species level (47.5%), the latter being the most favored group along with Dictyoceratida and Lithistida. Several rare and cave-exclusive species were reported from only one or few caves, indicating the fragmentation and peculiarity of this unique ecosystem. Species richness and phylogenetic diversity varied among Mediterranean areas; the former was positively correlated with research effort, being higher in the northern Mediterranean, while the latter was generally higher in caves than in the overall sponge assemblages of each area. Resemblance analysis among areas revealed that cavernicolous sponge assemblages followed a pattern quite similar to that of the overall Mediterranean assemblages. The same pattern was exhibited by the zoogeographic affinities of cave sponges: species with Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution and Mediterranean endemics prevailed (more than 40% each), 70% of them having warm-water affinities, since most caves were studied in shallow waters. According to our findings, Mediterranean marine caves appear to be important sponge biodiversity reservoirs of high representativeness and great scientific interest, deserving further detailed study and protection.</p> </div

Percentages of cave-exclusive species in the Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha orders.

<p>Percentages of cave-exclusive species in the Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha orders.</p

Bioclimatic categories of sponge species in Mediterranean subareas and throughout the Mediterranean.

<p>(A) cave fauna, (B) overall Mediterranean fauna. For abbreviations of Mediterranean areas see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039873#s2" target="_blank">Methods</a>.</p

Research effort compared to sponge species richness in Mediterranean subareas.

<p>For abbreviations of Mediterranean areas see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039873#s2" target="_blank">Methods</a>.</p

Zoogeographic characterization of sponge species in Mediterranean subareas and throughout the Mediterranean.

<p>(A) cave fauna, (B) overall Mediterranean fauna. For abbreviations of Mediterranean areas see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039873#s2" target="_blank">Methods</a>.</p

Order composition of cave and overall Mediterranean Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha.

<p>Order composition of cave and overall Mediterranean Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha.</p

Sponge species recorded from Mediterranean marine caves through time, alongside with research effort.

<p>Sponge species recorded from Mediterranean marine caves through time, alongside with research effort.</p

Resemblance of sponge assemblages in the Mediterranean subareas demonstrated in dendrograms and non-metric MDS plots.

<p>(A, B) cave assemblages, (C, D) overall Mediterranean assemblages. In the latter analysis, data for the Levantine Basin were omitted (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039873#s2" target="_blank">Methods</a>). For abbreviations of Mediterranean areas see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0039873#s2" target="_blank">Methods</a>.</p