Colonization of floats from submerged derelict fishing gears by four protected species of deep-sea corals and barnacles in the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea). (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Battaglia, Pietro; Consoli, Pierpaolo; Ammendolia, Giovanni; D'Alessandro, Michela; Bo, Marzia; Vicchio, Teresa Manuela; Pedà, Cristina; Cavallaro, Mauro; Andaloro, Franco; Romeo, Teresa
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 148(2019)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: Marine litter -- Rafting -- Deep-sea water -- Macroinvertebrates -- Encrusting fauna -- Settling; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.07.073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: The distribution of floating litter in marine waters, influenced by currents and wind drag, often determines the dispersal of its encrusting fauna. In the present paper, we observed for the first time the colonization of rafting floats from abandoned, lost or derelict fishing gears (ALDFG) by the four protected deep-sea species: Errina aspera, Desmophyllum pertusum, Madrepora oculata Pachylasma giganteum . Overall, 41 floats, colonized by deep benthic species, were found stranded on the shore of the Sicilian coast of the Strait of Messina, between 2016 and 2019. Species composition, number and occurrence of colonizing organisms were analyzed. On the basis of the species composition (the association between E . aspera, P . giganteum and Megabalanus tulipiformis ), the knowledge on their ecology, biogeography, path of local currents, it was possible to define that the area of origin of the most part of these fishing net floats was the Strait of Messina. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Stranded rafting floats from lost fishing nets were colonized by encrusting fauna. Four protected deep-sea species were found among colonizing fauna. Overall 38 taxa of macroinvertebrates encrusted the investigated litter. The area of origin of encrusting fauna was the Strait of Messina.