Abstract
The global decline of brown algal forests along rocky coasts is causing an exceptional biodiversity loss. Regardless of conservation efforts, different techniques have been developed for large-scale restoration strategies in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study we tested ex situ pilot restoration of Gongolaria barbata (=Treptacantha barbata) for the first time in Slovenian coastal waters. Healthy apical fronds of the species were collected and the development of recruits on clay tiles was followed under laboratory conditions for 20 days. Despite the experimental difficulties experienced, especially due to the lack of antibiotics to prevent the growth of the biofilm, G. barbata recruits were outplanted in the sea on two concrete plates with 48 tiles each, protected by purpose-built cages to avoid grazing by herbivorous fish. The high survival rate of juveniles after four months in the field (89% of the tiles on the plate that was constantly protected) suggests that outplanting G. barbata is an operable approach for restoration efforts in the northern Adriatic Sea. Our first experiment in Slovenian coastal waters provides new information for the optimization of the best practices during the laboratory cultivation and addresses the early steps of restoration and introduction of young thalli in the natural environment.
Highlights
Among perennial Mediterranean canopy-forming macroalgae, erect brown Cystoseira sensu lato species [1], referred to as Cystoseira (Fucales, Phaeophyceae), play an important role as habitat-builders on rocky bottoms [2,3,4]
Coastal urbanization, nutrient enrichment and chemical pollution have been recognized among the major stressors leading to the disappearance of vulnerable canopy-forming species [18,29,58], in some areas, such as in the northern Adriatic Sea, recent studies underline that eutrophication has decreased substantially [60,67]
Other acting factors acting in synergy should be considered in the evaluation of benthic habitat changes, especially in the view of habitat restoration
Summary
Among perennial Mediterranean canopy-forming macroalgae, erect brown Cystoseira sensu lato species [1], referred to as Cystoseira (Fucales, Phaeophyceae), play an important role as habitat-builders on rocky bottoms [2,3,4]. They form the so-called brown algal forests that for decades have been considered one of the most productive assemblages in the Mediterranean Sea [5,6]. These species are under surveillance by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), the RAC/SPA
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