A catastrophic mass-mortality episode of gorgonians and other organisms in the Ligurian Sea (North-western Mediterranean), summer 1999

In the late summer of 1999, an extensive mortality of gorgonians and other epi‐benthic organisms was observed in the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean Sea) from the Tuscan Archipelago to Marseille. Quantitative data from Tino Island and Portofino Promontory indicated that the proportion of affected gorgon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology letters 2000-07, Vol.3 (4), p.284-293
Main Authors: Cerrano, C., Bavestrello, G., Bianchi, C.N., Cattaneo-vietti, R., Bava, S., Morganti, C., Morri, C., Picco, P., Sara, G., Schiaparelli, S., Siccardi, A., Sponga, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthozoa
Gorgonacea
Gorgonians
Ligurian Sea
Marine
marine benthos
mass-mortality
Mediterranean Sea
water temperature
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Summary:In the late summer of 1999, an extensive mortality of gorgonians and other epi‐benthic organisms was observed in the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean Sea) from the Tuscan Archipelago to Marseille. Quantitative data from Tino Island and Portofino Promontory indicated that the proportion of affected gorgonians ranged from 60% to 100% in populations having a density of 9–27.8 colonies m−2, suggesting that millions of sea fans died along the coast of Liguria. This mass mortality episode coincided with a sudden increase of sea water temperature down to more than 50 m depth. Laboratory analyses showed that the colonies stressed by high temperature also underwent extensive attack by microrganisms (protozoans and fungi), which are interpreted as opportunistic pathogens.
ISSN:1461-023X
1461-0248
DOI:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2000.00152.x