Pubblicazione
Marine Forests (Fucales, Ochrophyta) in a low impacted Mediterranean coastal area: current knowledge and future perspectives. A phycological review in Sinis Peninsula and the Gulf of Oristano (Sardinia Island, Italy)
30/10/2019
Daniele Grech, Luca Fallati, Simone Farina, David Cabana, Ivan Guala
Abstract
Mediterranean seascapes are currently facing massive changes, with the disappearance of sensitive species responding to local anthropogenic disturbances and global climate changes. Mapping and monitoring of marine habitats are crucial tools for highlighting the occurrence of community shift that should be taken into account in coastal management and the implementation of conservation measures. Proper reference baselines are generally lacking, especially for marine forests of brown macroalgae (Fucales, Ochrophyta). They are considered among the most important marine ecosystem-engineers, forming extended stands comparable to land forests. They increase three-dimensional complexity and spatial heterogeneity of rocky bottoms, thus providing directly or indirectly substrate, refuge, shelter and food for a lot of animal and plant species at different life history stages. Despite their ecological importance, sensitiveness to anthropogenic disturbances and conservation interest, in the Sinis Peninsula (Western Sardinia, Italy), Fucales are historically understudied compared to other Mediterranean areas. A review of historical records and current research has been performed in order to shed light on the gaps in our knowledge and to discuss future possibilities for their management and conservation.
