Lithophyllum Byssoides Research Articles

Impact of sea level rise on the Mediterranean Lithophyllum byssoides rims

The calcified red macroalga Lithophyllum byssoides, a very common midlittoral species in the western Mediterranean Sea, is a significant ecosystem engineer capable, under exposed and dim light conditions, of building wide and solid endemic bioconstructions near the mean sea level: the L. byssoides rims or 'trottoirs à L. byssoides'. Although the growth of the species is relatively rapid for a calcified alga, the construction of a large rim requires several centuries of near stable or slowly rising sea level. As the time scale of their formation is measured in centuries, L. byssoides bioconstructions constitute valuable and sensitive sea level markers. The health status of L. byssoides rims has been studied at two sites located far apart from each other (Marseille and Corsica), both in areas heavily impacted by humans and in areas with little impact (MPAs and unprotected areas). A health index is proposed: Lithophylum byssoides Rims Health Index. The main and inevitable threat is the rise in the sea level. This ecosystem would be the first case worldwide of marine ecosystem collapse resulting, indirectly, from man-induced global change.

Age and significance of late Pleistocene Lithophyllum byssoides intertidal algal ridge, NW Sardinia, Italy

Intertidal coralline red algal build-ups (Lithophyllum byssoides rims or ridges) are considered precise sea level markers and mostly used for Holocene sea level history. Several well-preserved patches of relict red algal ridges crop out along the north-west Sardinian coast (Mediterranean Sea, Italy) and have great potential in reconstructing the late Pleistocene sea level history of the western Mediterranean. The aim of this paper is to determine the sedimentary characteristics of the relict Lithophyllum byssoides build-ups cropping out along the Sardinian NW coast and to demonstrate how these can be used as past sea-level indicators. To establish a chronological framework for these deposits, luminescence dating (both quartz OSL and K-feldspar pIRIR290) has been applied and allows for the Lithophyllum byssoides ridge formation to be assigned to Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 5e (132–112 ka). The studied relict ridges confirmed that MIS 5e sea-level was at least at 4 m above present, well matching the widely accepted last interglacial global sea-level curves. Hence, fossil Lithophyllum byssoides ridges can be used as stratigraphic and chronologic indicators of late Pleistocene sea-level. Moreover, the study has underlined that Lithophyllum byssoides may grow: (1) in sheltered places along high cliffy coasts forming bench-like structures, and (2) in high-energy environments on wave cut platforms around fallen blocks or potholes, first as isolated mounds and then merging to form reef-like structures.

Coralline Algae in a Changing Mediterranean Sea: How Can We Predict Their Future, if We Do Not Know Their Present?

In this review we assess the state of knowledge for the coralline algae of the Mediterranean Sea, a group of calcareous seaweeds imperfectly known and considered highly vulnerable to long-term climate change. Corallines have occurred in the Mediterranean area for approximately 140 My and are well represented in the subsequent fossil record; for some species currently common the fossil documentation dates back to the Oligocene, with a major role in the sedimentary record of some areas. Some Mediterranean corallines are key ecosystem engineers that produce or consolidate biogenic habitats (e.g., coralligenous concretions, Lithophyllum byssoides rims, rims of articulated corallines, maerl/rhodolith beds). Although bioconstructions built by corallines exist virtually in every sea, in the Mediterranean they reach a particularly high spatial and bathymetric extent (coralligenous concretions alone are estimated to exceed 2,700 km2 in surface). Overall, composition, dynamics and responses to human disturbances of coralline-dominated communities have been well studied; except for a few species, however, the biology of Mediterranean corallines is poorly known. In terms of diversity, 60 species of corallines are currently reported from the Mediterranean. This number, however, is based on morphological assessments and recent studies incorporating molecular data suggest that the correct estimate is probably much higher. The responses of Mediterranean corallines to climate change have been the subject of several recent studies that documented their tolerance/sensitivity to elevated temperatures and pCO2. These investigations have focused on a few species and should be extended to a wider taxonomic set. Phylogeography, genomics, transcriptomics, and associated microbiomes are fields in which the information for Mediterranean corallines is very limited. We suggest that future work on Mediterranean corallines should be based on a multidisciplinary perspective combining different approaches, and that it should consist of large-scale efforts by scientists based both in western and eastern Mediterranean areas.

Clunio boudouresquei sp. n. and Thalassosmittia ballestai sp. n., two Tyrrhenian marine species occurring in Scandola Nature Reserve, West Corsica (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Clunio boudouresquei sp. n. and Thalassosmittia ballestai sp. n. are diagnosed and described based on associated material of male adults, pharate male adults and pupal exuviae recently collected in the marine littoral zone of Scandola Nature Reserve (Cala Litizia, Punta Palazzu, Focolara Bay, West Corsica). While C. boudouresquei sp. n. is described as male and female adults and pupal exuviae, T. ballestai sp. n. is described only as male adult and pupal exuviae. On the basis of some atypical characters found in the male adult and pupal exuviae, both C. boudouresquei sp. n. and T. ballestai sp. n. appear to belong, to a local Tyrrhenian element. Biological cycles of both new species are closely related to alternation between marine and terrestrial ecological conditions, which are strongly reinforced during spring tides of lunar rhythms. Larval stages of both new species are typically marine shore dwellers of the intertidal zone along seacoasts of the Tyrrhenian sub-region, where the biological and ecological quality of marine coastal habitats are being seriously damaged by various anthropogenic activities. In the latter sites, the Lithophyllum byssoides (Lamarck) Foslie pavements (trottoirs, encorbellements) are actually threatened by the massive proliferation of Sea Mussels (Mytilidae), which predominate when changes in water quality and level of pollution become increasingly high. The two new species are considered as pertinent biological indicators of the marine coastal habitats around the Tyrrhenian Region, in particular, those delimited by the mid-littoral large bio-constructions of the red calcified alga L. byssoides, where the larvae of C. boudouresquei sp. n. are exclusively confined. Such threatened species are considered biogeographic Tyrrhenian representatives and indicators of global warming and local climate change in the region, particularly to a rising sea level. Comments on the taxonomic position, ecology and geographical distribution of the new species are given.

Relative sea-level change and climate change in the Northeastern Adriatic during the last 1.5 ka (Istria, Croatia)

A new high-resolution relative sea-level (RSL) reconstruction is presented for the past 1500 years based on four bio-constructions formed by alga Lithophyllum byssoides (algal rims). Two algal structures have been studied on the southern (Premantura site) and two on the eastern Istrian coast (Uboka and Brseč sites) in the Northeastern Adriatic. The data from the algal rims (47 radiocarbon data points) enabled the distinction of four major phases of RSL change which corresponds to periods of climate change. RSL between AD 400 and 800 during the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP), was almost stable. After AD 800, during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) the RSL increased up to ∼0.8 mm/yr. The following Little Ice Age period, (LIA) interval I (AD 1400 till 1600) is again characterised by RSL stability (RSL slowed down) which allows the rims at the southern coast to reach the width of ∼40–80 cm at their uppermost part and up to 20 cm for those along the eastern coast. Between AD ∼1600 and 1750, during the colder LIA II interval, algal rims do not form, as LIA II is assumed to be a period of RSL fall. Algal rims reveal that from the second part of the 19th century the RSL rose by 13–15 cm at the Premantura location and around 10 cm at the Brseč and Uboka areas, providing rates between 1 and 0.7 mm/yr respectively for the Current Warm Period (CWP).The sea-level trends were quantitatively defined using an Errors-In-Variables Integrated Gaussian Process (EIV-IGP) model, with full consideration of the available uncertainty. Following correction for the total land-level change (assumed to be around −0.4 mm/yr), four successive trends in sea-level change were confirmed. Sea-level dropped during the DACP at a mean rate of −0.4 mm/yr and increased to 0.5 mm/y as a consequence of Medieval warmth. Thereafter it was relatively stable during LIA I, fell up to −0.1 mm/yr during LIA II interval and has been slowly rising again during the CWP. Moreover, L. byssoides δ18O records show that these periods of sea-level changes are consistent with changes in temperature and thus with periods of rapid climate change.

Updated list of alien macrozoobenthic species along the Syrian coast

Marine biodiversity along the Syrian coast is affected by climate change-related temperature increase leading to the migration and entrance of alien species, especially from the Suez Canal (biological invasion). The Syrian coast is chracterized by many different types of habitats, including marine caves, midilittoral bioconstructions ( Lithophyllum byssoides rim and vermetid tarraces), coraligenous communities, sandy dunes, rocky coast and seagrass meadows. The present study summarizes early and most recent results on the presence, distribution, abundance and conservation status of marine alien species along the Syrian coast and provides an updated list of alien macrozoobenthic species. A total of 79 alien species belonging to Mollusca, Crustacea, Tunicata, Polychaeta, Spongia, Echinodermata and Chaetognatha are reported; among them Gastropoda is being the most abundant and successful taxon. In the light of these results, some recommendations on future research directions are provided. In particular, more effort is needed to monitor and record the entrance of alien species by adopting a comprehensive national plan to study marine biodiversity and to protect local resources in the Syrian marine environment.

Marine radiocarbon reservoir age of the coralline intertidal alga Lithophyllum byssoides in the Mediterranean

Abstract Coralline algae are the most significant framework builders outside the coral-reef belt. Among them, littoral rims built by the coralline rhodophyte Lithophyllum byssoides are a particularly precise archive of relative sea-level histories in the microtidal environment. Their potential has been underutilized due to the unresolved question of the size of the marine radiocarbon reservoir effect (MRE), which is needed for accurate calibration of dates obtained from marine-derived carbon samples. Because this intertidal alga is submerged during high tide and exposed to the atmosphere during low tide there are questions regarding the source of the carbon it uses and the level of MRE. Consequently, here we provide the first direct evidence regarding the L. byssoides MRE based on samples of known age from museum collections. A total of eight samples of pre-bomb L. byssoides from the Mediterranean revealed a mean reservoir age R(t) of 336 ± 47 14C yr and a ΔR value of −28 ± 41 14C yr for the carbonate fractions. The MRE values obtained from the alga revealed them to be more homogeneous and generally lower compared to the Mediterranean shell MREs for the same period. However, the mean values (mean Mediterranean shells MRE 437 ± 115 14C yr, ΔR 100 ± 99) are statistically indistinguishable as they overlap statistically at 1 sigma due to the great dispersion of mollusc shell values. In 6 out of 9 L. byssoides samples significant 14C age differences between algal carbonate and organic fractions have been observed. The organic fractions revealed higher MRE values. The δ13C of organic matter in marine macroalgae L. byssoides collected from the natural environment ranged from −13.4‰ to −18.7‰ VPDB. The δ13C values of organic samples of L. byssoides from the Mediterranean and Atlantic showed homogeneous values within the species with a mean of −15.4‰, although the alga belongs to the phylum Rhodophyta where the variability is the highest. These δ13C values do not provide unequivocal indications on the source of the inorganic carbon (Ci) used by the alga, but slightly lower reservoir ages (R(t)) of the L. byssoides carbonate fractions in relation to Mediterranean mean shells MRE could point to minor partial uptake of CO2 from the atmosphere during emersion (up to 20%). This could not be statistically confirmed. Homogeneous values of L. byssoides δ13C in the Mediterranean might be related to sharp environmental conditions in the intertidal zone in which the species grew.

Mediterranean Bioconstructions Along the Italian Coast.

Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures, regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral reefs are outstanding for their beauty, diversity and complexity, but analogous types of bioconstructions are also present in temperate seas. The main bioconstructions in the Mediterranean Sea are represented by coralligenous formations, vermetid reefs, deep-sea cold-water corals, Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs, coral banks formed by the shallow-water corals Cladocora caespitosa or Astroides calycularis, and sabellariid or serpulid worm reefs. Bioconstructions change the morphological and chemicophysical features of primary substrates and create new habitats for a large variety of organisms, playing pivotal roles in ecosystem functioning. In spite of their importance, Mediterranean bioconstructions have not received the same attention that tropical coral reefs have, and the knowledge of their biology, ecology and distribution is still fragmentary. All existing data about the spatial distribution of Italian bioconstructions have been collected, together with information about their growth patterns, dynamics and connectivity. The degradation of these habitats as a consequence of anthropogenic pressures (pollution, organic enrichment, fishery, coastal development, direct physical disturbance), climate change and the spread of invasive species was also investigated. The study of bioconstructions requires a holistic approach leading to a better understanding of their ecology and the application of more insightful management and conservation measures at basin scale, within ecologically coherent units based on connectivity: the cells of ecosystem functioning.

Genetic and morphological variation in an ecosystem engineer, Lithophyllum byssoides (Corallinales, Rhodophyta).

Lithophyllum byssoides is a common coralline alga in the intertidal zone of Mediterranean coasts, where it produces biogenic concretions housing a high algal and invertebrate biodiversity. This species is an ecosystem engineer and is considered a target for conservation efforts, but designing effective conservation strategies currently is impossible due to lack of information about its population structure. The morphological and molecular variation of L.byssoides was investigated using morphoanatomy and DNA sequences (psbA and cox2,3) obtained from populations at 15 localities on the Italian and Croatian coasts. Lithophyllumbyssoides exhibited a high number of haplotypes (31 psbA haplotypes and 24 cox2,3 haplotypes) in the central Mediterranean. The psbA and cox2,3 phylogenies were congruent and showed seven lineages. For most of these clades, the distribution was limited to one or a few localities, but one of them (clade 7) was widespread across the central Mediterranean, spanning the main biogeographic boundaries recognized in this area. The central Mediterranean populations formed a lineage separate from Atlantic samples; psbA pair-wise divergences suggested that recognition of Atlantic and Mediterranean L.byssoides as different species may be appropriate. The central Mediterranean haplotype patterns of L.byssoides were interpreted as resulting from past climatic events in the hydrogeological history of the Mediterranean Sea. The high haplotype diversity and the restricted spatial distribution of the seven lineages suggest that individual populations should be managed as independent units.

Response of rocky shore communities to anthropogenic pressures in Albania (Mediterranean Sea): Ecological status assessment through the CARLIT method

The lower mid-littoral and shallow subtidal communities were studied in the district of Vlora (Albania), three years after the establishment of a Marine Protected Area, with particular attention to the long-lived species. The bioconstructions built in the mid-littoral zone by the calcified rhodobiont Lithophyllum byssoides were in poor condition and sometimes even dead. In contrast, the brown alga Cystoseira amentacea constituted lush stands. For assessing the ecological status of the studied area, the CARLIT method, based upon macroalgal communities, was applied. The observed range of ecological status was wide (‘high’ through ‘bad’) and was overall among the lowest assessed to date in the Mediterranean Sea. The occurrence of extensive sea-urchin barren-grounds, though not taken into consideration by the CARLIT index, confirmed the poor condition of large sectors of the study area. Overall, the CARLIT index is well correlated with anthropogenic pressures, as assessed by the LUSI index.

Cartographic delimitation and characterization of potential marine artificial micro-reserves on the coasts of Ceuta (Strait of Gibraltar)

Event Abstract Back to Event Cartographic delimitation and characterization of potential marine artificial micro-reserves on the coasts of Ceuta (Strait of Gibraltar) Enrique Ostalé-Valriberas1*, Stefania Coppa2, Free Espinosa1 and José C. García-Gómez1 1 Universidad de Sevilla, Departamento de Zoología, Spain 2 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy Artificial Marine Micro-Reserves (AMMRs) is a protection concept for coastal defense structures where species or ecosystems of special interest are present. They are proposed areas that may be protected by the owners, performing an agreement with public administration to achieve the conservation goals. From AMMRs arise positive ecological and environmental aspects: direct protection of endangered species and indirect protection of non-protected species through reserve effect, increased probability of an early detection of non-native species, higher environmental integration of coastal structures and also the opportunity to implement the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60CE). The present study focused on the biological characterization of intertidal zone of breakwaters in Ceuta (Strait of Gibraltar area), in order to obtain useful information and assess potential AMMRs. Intertidal levels studied were +0.25cm and +0.75cm over lowest tide, taking five random 25x25cm photographs to horizontal and vertical sides each within 10m transects. Species of interest were cataloged into different groups: Protected somehow (Pr), Bioindicators (Bi), Invasive or non-indigenous (In) and regulated harvest (Re). In addition, the number of waste was recorded to assess the anthropic impact over the different studied areas. Results show that artificial structures within the North Bay of Ceuta fits the needed requirements to be protected as an AMMR. It also has been detected settled over these structures a huge number of juveniles and adults of the endangered gastropod Patella ferruginea, and also of several species with some type of protection degree: Cymbula nigra, Dendropoma petraeum, Astroides calycularis and Lithophyllum byssoides. These results, bound by the appearance of several bioindicator species as Astroides calycularis, Dendropoma petraeum, Lithophyllum byssoides and Actinia equina are linked to the high quality and renovation of Ceuta’s port water. The abundance of adult reproductive specimens on the studied populations of the species above mentioned is a high incentive to consider the artificial structures within the North Bay as the first AMMR worldwide and, from a conservation point of view, to manage this area with a view to establish a future AMMRs network which may increase some species populations connectivity. Acknowledgements The authors would like to express their gratitude to Íñigo Donázar Aramendía for his help in the counting processes and Francisco Sánchez Martín y Luís de Amuedo Sánchez for their assistance and equipment provided. The present study was developed under the Marine Biology Station of Ceuta scientific projects, an institution supported by Autoridad Portuaria de Ceuta, Autoridad Portuaria de Sevilla, Ciudad de Ceuta, Aquagestión Sur, Watergames-GranAzul, Marina Hércules and CEPSA. The present study Keywords: Marine Micro-Reserves Networks, Coastal defense, Artificial systems, protected species, Strait of Gibraltar Conference: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies, Porto, Portugal, 5 Sep - 9 Sep, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: 1. ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY AND VULNERABLE ECOSYSTEMS Citation: Ostalé-Valriberas E, Coppa S, Espinosa F and García-Gómez J (2016). Cartographic delimitation and characterization of potential marine artificial micro-reserves on the coasts of Ceuta (Strait of Gibraltar). Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XIX Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.05.00130 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 29 Apr 2016; Published Online: 03 Sep 2016. * Correspondence: Mr. Enrique Ostalé-Valriberas, Universidad de Sevilla, Departamento de Zoología, Sevilla, 41012, Spain, enriqueostalevalriberas@gmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Enrique Ostalé-Valriberas Stefania Coppa Free Espinosa José C. García-Gómez Google Enrique Ostalé-Valriberas Stefania Coppa Free Espinosa José C. García-Gómez Google Scholar Enrique Ostalé-Valriberas Stefania Coppa Free Espinosa José C. García-Gómez PubMed Enrique Ostalé-Valriberas Stefania Coppa Free Espinosa José C. García-Gómez Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Abundance and fragmentation patterns of the ecosystem engineer Lithophyllum byssoides (Lamarck) Foslie along the Iberian Peninsula Atlantic coast. Conservation and management implications

The crustose calcareous red macroalgae Lithophyllum byssoides (Lamarck) Foslie is a common ecosystem engineer along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This species is threatened by several anthropogenic impacts acting at different spatial scales, such as pollution or global warming. The aim of this study is to identify scales of spatial variation in the abundance and fragmentation patterns of L. byssoides along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. For this aim we used a hierarchical sampling design considering four spatial scales (from metres to 100s of kilometres). Results of the present study indicated no significant variability among regions investigated whereas significant variability was found at the scales of shore and site in spatial patterns of abundance and fragmentation of L. byssoides. Variance components were higher at the spatial scale of shore for abundance and fragmentation of L. byssoides with the only exception of percentage cover and thus, processes acting at the scale of 10s of kilometres seem to be more relevant in shaping the spatial variability both in abundance and fragmentation of L. byssoides. These results provided quantitative estimates of abundance and fragmentation of L. byssoides at the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula establishing the observational basis for future assessment, monitoring and experimental investigations to identify the processes and anthropogenic impacts affecting L. byssoides populations. Finally we have also identified percentage cover and patch density as the best variables for long-term monitoring programs aimed to detect future anthropogenic impacts on L. byssoides. Therefore, our results have important implications for conservation and management of this valuable ecosystem engineer along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Distinct phases of relative sea level changes in the central Adriatic during the last 1500 years — influence of climatic variations?

We present a new sea-level reconstruction for the past 1500years based on biological indicators from the Central Adriatic islands. Biogenic littoral rims built by the coralline rhodophyte Lithophyllum byssoides were found on the particularly exposed sites on the rocky coasts of the islands of Vis, Ravnik and Biševo in Croatia. The presence of thick and well-developed Lithophyllum rims, considered to be precise (±10cm) sea-level indicators, points directly to the rising sea-level environment. Biogenic rims were mapped, measured and sampled for 14C dating.The obtained results point to four phases of sea-level changes. The sea-level was near stable from around 550 till 770calAD, in the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP), then during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (770 till 1330calAD) the sea-level increased at a rate of 0.71mm/yr. During the Little Ice Age (LIA) (1330 till 1640calAD) it was near stable again. Later, the sea-level started to rise at a much higher rate particularly during the Current Warm Period (CWP). These data were compared with local predictions derived from a glacio-hydro-isostatic models associated with the Last Glacial cycle. If the isostatic–eustatic component is separated, this area seems to have almost stable tectonic conditions during the past 1500years.Our results show that the large algal rims most likely grew during near-stable sea-level conditions that occurred during two relatively colder periods in the past 1500years. They also reveal that well-developed (up to 1.8m wide) upper levels of algal rims were formed during ~300years of stabilisation throughout the LIA.

Specie Nuove e Interessanti di Rhodophyceae Raccolte Nel Bacino Orientale del Mediterraneo

Abstract New and interesting species of Rhodophyceae from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. — A description is given of four newly found species of Rhodophyceae from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The specimens were collected during the course of a 1967 N.A.T.O. Oceanographic Expedition in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea with the aid of diving technique. The specimens-typus are deposited with Herbarium of Botanical Institut of Trieste. The newly found species are the following: Halymenia cavernicola G. Giaccone, Phyllophora aegei G. Giaccone, Ceramium hellenicum G. Giaccone, Centroceras pignattii G. Giaccone. A short description of three interesting Corallinaceae (Lithophyllum byssoides Fosl. f. byssoides, L. tortuosum Fosl. f. cristata Fosl., Tenarea undulosa Bory) is also given. Data are added on the coralligenous communities examined in two «releves» at high and low depths. Dichotomous and synoptical keys to the new species are suggested: Gen. Halymenia Ag. I - Thallus broad more than 5 cm. (H. fioresia, ul...