Abstract
The Salento peninsula is a portion of the Italian mainland separating two distinct Mediterranean basins, the Ionian and the Adriatic seas. Several authors have studied the marine Heterobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda) fauna composition living in the Ionian Sea, but to date further knowledge regarding this interesting group of mollusks is still needed. Recent studies have corroborated the peculiarity of the Mediterranean Sea showing high levels of endemism and cryptic diversity. On the other hand, marine sea slugs have been revealed to be important indicators of the marine ecosystem’s health, due to their species-specific diet that consist of a vast variety of sessile and benthic invertebrates. A baseline study of the marine Heterobranchia diversity is therefore a necessary step to reveal the hidden diversity and to monitor the possible presence of alien species. The present study shows results from approximately 600 scientific dives carried out during a nine-year period in all of the main submarine habitats of the studied area, while accounting for the marine Heterobranchia from both the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. With this contribution, the list of marine Heterobranchia inhabiting the Salento Peninsula rises to 160. Furthermore, it also reports, for the first time, the presence of one alien species and three new records for Italian waters. Ecological notes and geographical distribution for each added species are provided together with animal iconography, consisting mainly of in situ photographs, for species identification.
Highlights
The Salento Peninsula (South-East Italy) in Puglia is a strip of land right on the border of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, made up of a large variety of habitats: rocky formations, open sandy beaches, marine caves, etc
The maximum and minimum width are 54 and 33 kilometers, respectively, and the total coastal length is 365 kilometers [1,2,3,4,5]. This peninsula protrudes between two ecoregions of the Mediterranean Sea [6], the Northern Ionian, and the Southern Adriatic seas, which are conventionally separated by the dividing line passing through Otranto
This work reported for the first time the presence of Elysia margaritae (Fez, 1962), Haminoea cf. orteai (Talavera, Murillo and Templado, 1987), and Rubramoena amoena (Alder & Hancock, 1845), in Italian waters
Summary
The Salento Peninsula (South-East Italy) in Puglia is a strip of land right on the border of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, made up of a large variety of habitats: rocky formations, open sandy beaches, marine caves, etc. Diversity 2020, 12, 171 biogeographical zones described by Bianchi [7], i.e., zones 6 and 7, respectively) These two basins are characterised by peculiar and distinct main currents and submarine morphologies, resulting in very complex and dynamic ecosystems affected by seasonal fluctuations, which influences both the shallow and deep communities [8,9]. This marine area could potentially host a high abundance of Heterobranchia species, due to their pelagic larval stage and diversified diet. The change in marine Heterobranchia fauna composition over time is considered a good ecological indicator of potential environmental modifications [10,11,12,13,14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
