Suivi biologique d'une réserve marine de la Côte Bleue (Golfe de Marseille, Méditerranée, France)

The “Côte Bleue” marine parc, located between Fos and Marseilles (French Mediterranean coast), includes two fisheries reserves at Carry-le-Rouet (85 ha, created in 1983) and Cape Couronne (210 ha, created in 1996), both provided with anti-trawling and production artificial reefs. The biological survey of Cap-Couronne reserve has been repeated with the same protocol every three years since 1995 and took into account the initial state of communities before protection. This programme aims at assessing (i) the ecosystem restoration, (ii) the benefits of this protection regime for sustaining the resources exploited by the low-tech small fisheries. It includes visual censuses of fish assemblages and standardized fishing operations made by professional (trammel net) and amateur (hook-and-line) fishermen within and outside the reserve. Both methods attest that the abundance and the individual size of the most valuable fish species are markedly increasing, and that the behaviour of these species tends to be more natural. After five years of protection, the reserve fish stocks are still in a replenishment stage, but the greater abundance of large-sized individuals of targeted species and changes in their behaviour suggest that the reproductive success of those species will increase significantly and will benefit the fishing activities outside the reserveLe Parc Marin de la Côte Bleue, situé entre Fos et Marseille, gère deux réserves intégrales, à Carry-le-Rouet (85 ha, créée en 1983) et au cap Couronne (210 ha, créée en 1996). Ces deux réserves sont aménagées avec des récifs artificiels de protection anti-chalut et de production et font l'objet de suivis biologiques depuis leur création. Le programme de suivi de la réserve de Cap-Couronne a été répété trois fois selon le même protocole depuis 1995 avec un point zéro de l'état des peuplements avant l'application des mesures de protection et d'aménagement. Ce programme a pour objectifs : (i) la mise en évidence de la régénération de l'écosystème littoral ; (ii) l'évaluation des acquis de la protection d'une zone bien définie pour une gestion concertée des ressources halieutiques au bénéfice de la petite pêche artisanale. Il comprend des recensements visuels des assemblages de poissons et des pêches standardisées réalisées avec des pêcheurs professionnels (filet trémail) et amateurs (lignes). Les deux méthodes d'évaluation montrent que l'abondance et la taille individuelle des poissons les plus recherchés sont en nette augmentation, et qu'il y a une restauration de leur comportement naturel. Après cinq ans de protection, le peuplement ichtyologique de la réserve est encore en phase de restauration, mais l'augmentation observée du nombre de gros géniteurs d'espèces de forte valeur commerciale et l'amélioration de leur comportement permettent de prédire un accroissement du succès reproductif de leurs populations dans la réserve, au bénéfice de l'exploitation halieutique en périphérie

Re-shifting the ecological baseline for the overexploited Mediterranean red coral

Overexploitation leads to the ecological extinction of many oceanic species. The depletion of historical abundances of large animals, such as whales and sea turtles, is well known. However, the magnitude of the historical overfishing of exploited invertebrates is unclear. The lack of rigorous baseline data limits the implementation of efficient management and conservation plans in the marine realm. The precious Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum has been intensively exploited since antiquity for its use in jewellery. It shows dramatic signs of overexploitation, with no untouched populations known in shallow waters. Here, we report the discovery of an exceptional red coral population from a previously unexplored shallow underwater cave in Corsica (France) harbouring the largest biomass (by more than 100-fold) reported to date in the Mediterranean. Our findings challenge current assumptions on the pristine state of this emblematic species. Our results suggest that, before intense exploitation, red coral lived in relatively high-density populations with a large proportion of centuries-old colonies, even at very shallow depths. We call for the re-evaluation of the baseline for red coral and question the sustainability of the exploitation of a species that is still common but ecologically (functionally) extinct and in a trajectory of further decline

Action plan for the conservation of habitats and species associated with seamounts, underwater caves and canyons, aphotic hard beds and chemo-synthetic phenomena in the Mediterranean Sea (Dark Habitats action plan)

Dark habitats are environments where the luminosity is extremely weak, or even absent (aphotic area) leading to an absence of macroscopic autochthonous photosynthesis. The bathymetric extension of this lightless area depends to a great extent on the turbidity of the water and corresponds to benthic and pelagic habitats starting from the deep circa-littoral. Caves which show environmental conditions that favour the installation on of organisms characteristic of dark habitats, are also taken into account. Dark habitats are dependent on very diverse geomorphological structures (e.g. underwater caves, canyons, slopes, isolated rocks, abyssal plains, cold seeps, brine anoxic lakes, hydrothermal springs and seamounts). Dark habitats represent outstanding and potential ecosystems with regard to their: Frailty and vulnerability to any land-based pressure Play an important part in the way the Mediterranean ecosystem functions, insofar as they constitute the main route for transferring matter between the coast and the deep sea Considered as biodiversity hotspots and recruiting areas forming a veritable reservoirs of knowledge and biodiversity Natural habitats that come under Habitat Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and appear as such as priority habitats requiring protection (Directive 92/43). A certain number of underwater caves enjoy protection status because they fall within the geographical boundaries of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Understanding of these functions is necessary for a better understanding and management of the biodiversity of Mediterranean coastal zones and continental shelf.peer-reviewe

Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages

IntroductionCoastal detrital bottoms (CDB) are one of the most extensive habitats of the continental shelf worldwide, in the upper levels of the circalittoral zone. Hosting a diverse community structured by sediment grain size, trophic interactions and calcified organisms, CDB exhibit important ecological functions. In the Mediterranean Sea, CDB are constituted by recent elements partly provided by adjacent infralittoral and circalittoral ecosystems. Since the 2010s, the offshore extension of many Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has resulted in the incorporation of vast areas of CDB, raising the issue of their management. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has embraced the concept of an ecosystem-based approach involving taking into account the functioning of marine habitats and their related ecosystem services. The purpose of this paper is to propose an ecosystem-based quality index (EBQI) tested on CDB from the north-western Mediterranean Sea, focusing mainly on epibenthic assemblages.MethodsThe first step has been to define a conceptual model of the CDB functioning, including the main trophic compartments and their relative weighting, then to identify appropriate assessment methods and potential descriptors. Twenty-nine sites were sampled along the coast of Provence and French Riviera (Southern France). Study sites were chosen with a view to encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions and human pressures.ResultsVery well-preserved sites were found in Provence in areas without trawling and terrigenous inputs, while impacted and low-ES sites were located in the vicinity of urbanized areas. The cover of rhodoliths characterizes the seascape and might be an indicator of the good ES of CDB and reduced human pressure. However, the absence of rhodoliths may also be induced by natural phenomena.DiscussionThe EBQI designed for CDB proved representative and useful for a functional assessment based on epibenthic assemblages. However, some descriptors have shown their limitations and should be further explored. We highlight here the priority of establishing an index corresponding to a societal demand (e.g., European Directives, Barcelona convention) as a basis for a broad and large-scale assessment, for practical reasons. We stress the need to better apprehend the role of the macro-infauna and to extend this index over a wider geographical scale

New Mediterranean biodiversity records (March 2016)

In this Collective Article on “New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records”, we present additional records of species found in the Mediterranean Sea. These records refer to eight different countries mainly throughout the northern part of the basin, and include 28 species, belonging to five Phyla. The findings per country include the following species: Spain: Callinectes sapidus and Chelidonura fulvipunctata; Monaco: Aplysia dactylomela; Italy: Charybdis (Charybdis) feriata, Carcharodon carcharias, Seriola fasciata, and Siganus rivulatus; Malta: Pomacanthus asfur; Croatia: Lagocephalus sceleratus and Pomadasys incisus; Montenegro: Lagocephalus sceleratus; Greece: Amathia (Zoobotryon) verticillata, Atys macandrewii, Cerithium scabridum, Chama pacifica, Dendostrea cf. folium, Ergalatax junionae, Septifer cumingii, Syphonota geographica, Syrnola fasciata, Oxyu- richthys petersi, Scarus ghobban, Scorpaena maderensis, Solea aegyptiaca and Upeneus pori; Turkey: Lobotes surinamensis, Ruvettus pretiosus and Ophiocten abyssicolum. In the current article, the presence of Taractes rubescens (Jordan & Evermann, 1887) is recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean from Italy. The great contribution of citizen scientists in monitoring biodiversity records is reflected herein, as 10% of the authors are citizen scientists, and contributed 37.5% of the new findings.peer-reviewe

Draft Guidelines for Inventoring and Monitoring of Dark Habitats

UNEP(DEPI)/MED WG. 431/Inf.12Dark habitats1 are distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin from the sea surface (i.e. caves) to the deep-sea realm. Various habitats of unique scientific and conservation interest are included in this broad habitat category, such as dark caves, submarine canyons, seamounts and chemo-synthetic features supporting sensitive assemblages which require special protection. Therefore, dark habitats were considered under the Action Plan adopted in the Eighteenth Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (Turkey, December 2013). In the context of implementation schedule of the Dark Habitats Action Plan (UNEP-MAP-RAC/SPA, 2015a) a set of guidelines should be identified aiming to reduce the imminent pressures and threats affecting these vulnerable assemblages. This document aims to establish guidelines for inventorying and monitoring Mediterranean deep-sea habitats and marine caves in order to settle the basis for a regional-based assessment

The Mediterranean species of Hornera Lamouroux, 1821 (Bryozoa, Cyclostomata): reassessment of H. frondiculata (Lamarck, 1816) and description of H. mediterranea n. sp.

International audienc

Callopora bathyalis n. sp., nouvelle espèce de Bryozoaire chilostome de l’Océan Atlantique nord-oriental

A new species of Callopora (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata Anasca), C. bathyalis n. sp., was discovered on Madreporaria from the bathyal zone of the Atlantic Ocean. Its main characteristic consists in an entire covering of the area by a calcified racketshaped plate joined to the proximal gymnocyst by a peduncle. This plate bears an avicularium and represents a highly modified avicularian chamber. This structure appears to be a striking adaptation to the deep habitat of this species. Its supposed function is to protect the frontal membrane from silt deposit

Les Bryozoaires, de bons indicateurs bathymétriques en paléoécologie ?

Bryozoans : are they good depth indicators in paleoecology ? The interest of bryozoans as paleoindicators of depth has been assessed by considering in recent communities the depth related changes in specific richness and abundance, the distributionnal patterns of the taxonomic subdivisions and of the zoarial types, and the zooidal adaptations. Water depth does not control directly these ceno-tic and specific characters but is involved through more or less concomitant changes in factors such as salinity, temperature, water movements, rate of sedimentation, nature and availability of substrates, competition for space, etc. The patterns of change of these factors along vertical gradients are highly variable at different spatial scales, especially on the continental shelf. Thus, a particular attention should be paid to the data interpreting. The most reliable informations are given by the growth-form structure of the assemblages, complemented by taxonomic data. Their interpretation should take into account the size of the colonies and the fact that the informations derived from the bryozoan data allow defining microhabitat characteristics, which may differ notably from thai of the whole site. blages, complemented by taxonomic data. Their interpretation should take into account the size of the colonies and the fact that the informations derived from the bryozoan data allow defining microhabitat characteristics, which may differ notably from thai of the whole site.L'intérêt des bryozoaires comme indicateurs des paléoprofondeurs a été évalué en examinant dans les communautés actuelles l'évolution en profondeur de la richesse spécifique et de l'abondance, de la distribution des catégories taxonomiques et des types zoariaux, et les morphoses zoïdales. L'intervention de la profondeur sur ces caractères cénotiques et spécifiques n'est pas directe mais se fait à travers les variations plus ou moins concomitantes de facteurs tels que salinité, température, mouvements de l'eau, taux de sédimentation, nature et abondance des substrats, compétition pour l'espace, etc. L'évolution en profondeur de ces facteurs présente une grande hétérogénéité à diverses échelles spatiales, en particulier sur le plateau continental. Les indications doivent donc être interprétées avec la plus grande prudence. Les informations les plus intéressantes sont apportées par les formes zoariales, complétées par les données taxonomiques. Leur interprétation doit tenir compte de la taille des colonies et du fait que les informations tirées des bryozoaires permettent de définir les caractéristiques de leurs microhabitats, qui peuvent être très différentes de celles des sites pris dans leur ensemble.Harmelin Jean-Georges. Les Bryozoaires, de bons indicateurs bathymétriques en paléoécologie ?. In: Géologie Méditerranéenne. Tome 15, numéro 1, 1988. Indicateurs bathymétriques biologiques des milieux actuels de la marge continentale. pp. 49-63

Alien bryozoans in the eastern Mediterranean Sea—new records from the coast of Lebanon

Harmelin, Jean-Georges (2014): Alien bryozoans in the eastern Mediterranean Sea—new records from the coast of Lebanon. Zootaxa 3893 (3): 301-338, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3893.3.