Mass mortality of &lt;i&gt;Eunicella singularis&lt;/i&gt; (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in the Chafarinas Islands (North Africa, Western Mediterranean Sea)

Antonio De La Linde-Rubio,J Manuel Tierno De Figueroa,Luis Sánchez-Tocino,Manuel J López-Rodríguez

doi:10.22370/rbmo.2018.53.2.1304

Mass mortality of <i>Eunicella singularis</i> (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in the Chafarinas Islands (North Africa, Western Mediterranean Sea)

Antonio De La Linde-Rubio, J Manuel Tierno De Figueroa + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.22370/rbmo.2018.53.2.1304

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Abstract

Records of mortality after a high temperature event in 2014 in the white gorgonian Eunicella singularis were compiled in six different locations around the Chafarinas Islands. Quadrats were used to quantify dead colonies, colonies affected by epibionts and healthy colonies at different depths. No relationship was found between depth and percentage of affected colonies; however differences in the mortality among sites were detected. On average, 43% of the colonies of E. singularis were found dead, 21% damaged and 36% healthy. These results highlight the need of further researches for monitoring the colonies of this species considering future scenarios of rising temperature.

Highlights

In the last 20 years, several mass mortality events of marine benthic organisms related to high summer water temperatures have been reported in the Western Mediterranean European coasts: years 1999 and 2003 (Cerrano et al 2000, Pérez et al 2000, Garrabou et al 2001, 2009; Linares et al 2005, Coma et al 2006, 2009; Lejeusne et al 2010, Crisci et al 2011), 2008 and 2009 (Maldonado et al 2010, Cebrian et al 2011), 2015 (RubioPortillo et al 2016) and 2016 (Sánchez-Tocino & Tierno de Figueroa 2016)
Thermal stress or decrease oxygen concentrations are some of the causes that contribute to mortality due to abnormally high temperatures (Cerrano et al 2000, Cerrano & Bavestrello 2008, Coma et al 2009, Maldonado et al 2010)
The number of healthy colonies, colonies with more and less than 50% of damaged parts, and dead colonies were estimated by observation and counting of Eunicella singularis colonies in each quadrant

Summary

RESEARCH NOTE

Mass mortality of Eunicella singularis (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in the Chafarinas Islands (North Africa, Western Mediterranean Sea). Abstract.- Records of mortality after a high temperature event in 2014 in the white gorgonian Eunicella singularis were compiled in six different locations around the Chafarinas Islands. Quadrats were used to quantify dead colonies, colonies affected by epibionts and healthy colonies at different depths. No relationship was found between depth and percentage of affected colonies; differences in the mortality among sites were detected. 43% of the colonies of E. singularis were found dead, 21% damaged and 36% healthy. These results highlight the need of further researches for monitoring the colonies of this species considering future scenarios of rising temperature

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

LITERATURE CITED