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12 pages, 9334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity and Distribution of Intertidal Cystoseira sensu lato Species Across Protection Zones in a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area

by Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Gianluca Sarà and Anna Maria Mannino

Plants 2024, 13(24), 3562; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13243562 - 20 Dec 2024

Viewed by 779

Abstract

This study investigates the diversity and distribution of intertidal Cystoseira sensu lato (s.l.) species across different protection zones within the “Capo Gallo-Isola delle Femmine” Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the central Mediterranean Sea. Five Cystoseira s.l. species (Cystoseira compressa, C. foeniculacea, Ericaria amentacea, E. brachycarpa and E. crinita) were observed on the intertidal rocky shores, with varied abundances across the MPA’s protection zones. Ericaria amentacea was the only species found in all zones, with a much higher cover percentage in the most protected area (zone A). However, its morpho-functional traits showed an inverse trend, with the largest thalli found in the moderately protected zone B and C. The remaining Cystoseira s.l. species were only found in zones B and C probably due to their wider area and greater habitat diversity compared to zone A. The presence of two non-indigenous species, Asparagopsis taxiformis and Caulerpa cylindracea, was observed exclusively in the less protected zones B and C. Our findings highlight the complex interactions between MPA protection levels and Cystoseira s.l. species conservation, with protection having, in some respects, a positive influence on selected Cystoseira s.l. species, indicating the importance of careful consideration in MPA design and management. Furthermore, this study provides a baseline for future monitoring of Cystoseira s.l. populations in light of ongoing environmental changes in the Mediterranean Sea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)

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18 pages, 4164 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conserving Marine Forests: Assessing the Effectiveness of a Marine Protected Area for Cystoseira sensu lato Populations in the Central Mediterranean Sea

by Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Gianluca Sarà and Anna Maria Mannino

Plants 2024, 13(2), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020162 - 6 Jan 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2162

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are vital for biodiversity conservation, yet their effectiveness in preserving foundation seaweeds remains understudied. This study investigates the diversity and distribution of Cystoseira sensu lato (including Cystoseira, Ericaria, and Gongolaria, hereafter referred to as Cystoseira s.l.) populations in an MPA located in the central Mediterranean Sea, comparing them with those in two unprotected sites. We hypothesized MPA Cystoseira s.l. populations would display higher diversity and structure compared to outside unprotected sites. Results revealed a total of 19 Cystoseira s.l. species at depths of 0–20 m, with the MPA exhibiting a higher diversity than unprotected sites. Thus, MPAs can play a crucial role in fostering the diversity of Cystoseira s.l. populations. However, no significant differences were observed among the MPA’s protection zones, raising questions about the zoning effectiveness. Additionally, our survey uncovered a substantial presence of non-indigenous seaweeds within the MPA. In conclusions, while MPAs improved Cystoseira s.l. diversity compared to unprotected sites, the varying efficacy of protection within MPA zones suggested a necessity for site-specific conservation strategies. The presence of non-indigenous seaweeds emphasizes ongoing challenges. This study provides a baseline for understanding Cystoseira s.l. population dynamics, crucial for future monitoring and conservation efforts in the face of global change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Forest Environment and Ecology)

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18 pages, 3837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Invasive Fish and Sea Urchins Drive the Status of Canopy Forming Macroalgae in the Eastern Mediterranean

by Athanasios Nikolaou, Konstantinos Tsirintanis, Gil Rilov and Stelios Katsanevakis

Biology 2023, 12(6), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12060763 - 24 May 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5092

Abstract

Canopy-forming macroalgae, such as Cystoseira sensu lato, increase the three-dimensional complexity and spatial heterogeneity of rocky reefs, enhancing biodiversity and productivity in coastal areas. Extensive loss of canopy algae has been recorded in recent decades throughout the Mediterranean Sea due to various anthropogenic pressures. In this study, we assessed the biomass of fish assemblages, sea urchin density, and the vertical distribution of macroalgal communities in the Aegean and Levantine Seas. The herbivore fish biomass was significantly higher in the South Aegean and Levantine compared to the North Aegean. Very low sea urchin densities suggest local collapses in the South Aegean and the Levantine. In most sites in the South Aegean and the Levantine, the ecological status of macroalgal communities was low or very low at depths deeper than 2 m, with limited or no canopy algae. In many sites, canopy algae were restricted to a very narrow, shallow zone, where grazing pressure may be limited due to harsh hydrodynamic conditions. Using Generalized Linear Mixed Models, we demonstrated that the presence of canopy algae is negatively correlated with the biomass of the invasive Siganus spp. and sea urchins. The loss of Cystoseira s.l. forests is alarming, and urgent conservation actions are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Alien Invasions and Their Impact on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)

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12 pages, 3350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Lush Fucales Underwater Forests off the Cilento Coast: An Overlooked Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot

by Francesco Rendina, Annalisa Falace, Giuseppina Alongi, Maria Cristina Buia, João Neiva, Luca Appolloni, Giuliana Marletta and Giovanni Fulvio Russo

Plants 2023, 12(7), 1497; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071497 - 29 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2702

Abstract

Fucales (Phaeophyceae) are ecosystem engineers and forest-forming macroalgae whose populations are declining dramatically. In the Mediterranean Sea, Cystoseira sensu lato (s.l.)—encompassing the genera Cystoseira sensu stricto, Ericaria, and Gongolaria—is the most diverse group, and many species have been shown to be locally extinct in many areas, resulting in a shift toward structurally less complex habitats with the consequent loss of ecosystem functions and services. In this study, we report on the extensive occurrence of healthy and dense marine forests formed by Fucales in the Santa Maria di Castellabate Marine Protected Area in Cilento, Italy (Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean). On a total area of 129.45 ha, 10 Cystoseira s.l. taxa were detected using a combined morphological and molecular approach, with an average cover of more than 70%. One of these taxa has been sequenced for the first time. These findings underline the high ecological value of this area as a hotspot of benthic biodiversity and highlight the importance of marine protected area management and regional monitoring programs to ensure the conservation of these valuable yet fragile coastal ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)

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14 pages, 2552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Effect of Full Protection on the Biomass of Ericaria amentacea and Understory Assemblages: Evidence from Two Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

by Laura Cannarozzi, Stanislao Bevilacqua, Giuseppina Alongi, Valentina Asnaghi, Mariachiara Chiantore, Annachiara Pagnotta, Chiara Paoli, Ilaria Rigo, Paolo Vassallo and Annalisa Falace

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010089 - 10 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2460

Abstract

Cystoseira sensu lato marine forests, which are among the most productive and diverse systems in rocky intertidal and subtidal habitats of the Mediterranean Sea, are experiencing a widespread decline throughout the basin due to increasing human pressures. Yet it is still unclear whether Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) may represent effective tools for conservation of these important habitat formers and their associated assemblages. Here, we compared the biomass of intertidal stands of Ericaria amentacea (C. Agardh) Molinari and Guiry and their understory assemblages between the no-take zone and control sites in two Mediterranean MPAs. We did not find evidence supporting a significant effect of full protection in increasing the biomass of E. amentacea stands and associated assemblages, except for macroalgae of the understory in one of the investigated MPAs, raising concerns on the potential effectiveness of MPAs in mitigating human impacts on these marine forests. Such findings call for major efforts to implement long-term monitoring programs of protected Cystoseira s.l. forests in order to inform an adaptive management of conservation measures within MPAs and eventually to set active interventions of restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biodiversity Conservation)

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17 pages, 6227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multidisciplinary Analysis of Cystoseira sensu lato (SE Spain) Suggest a Complex Colonization of the Mediterranean

by Ana Belén Jódar-Pérez, Marc Terradas-Fernández, Federico López-Moya, Leticia Asensio-Berbegal and Luis Vicente López-Llorca

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(12), 961; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8120961 - 25 Nov 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3842

Abstract

Cystoseira sensu lato (sl) are three genera widely recognized as bioindicators for their restricted habitat in a sub-coastal zone with low tolerance to pollution. Their ecological, morphological and taxonomic features are still little known due to their singular characteristics. We studied seven species of Cystoseira sl spp. in Cabo de las Huertas (Alicante, SE Spain) and analyzed their distribution using Permutational Analysis of Variance (PERMANOVA) and Principal Component Ordination plots (PCO). A morphological cladogram has been constructed using fifteen phenotypic taxonomic relevant characters. We have also developed an optimized Cystoseira sl DNA extraction protocol. We have tested it to obtain amplicons from mt23S, tRNA-Lys and psbA genes. With these sequence data, we have built a phylogenetic supertree avoiding threatened Cystoseira sl species. Cartography and distribution analysis show that the response to hydrodynamism predicts perennial or seasonal behaviors. Morphological cladogram detects inter-specifical variability between our species and reference studies. Our DNA phylogenetic tree supports actual classification, including for the first-time Treptacantha sauvageauana and Treptacantha algeriensis species. These data support a complex distribution and speciation of Cystoseira sl spp. in the Mediterranean, perhaps involving Atlantic clades. The high ecological value of our area of study merits a future protection status as a Special Conservation Area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Taxonomy and Ecology of Marine Algae)

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19 pages, 2107 KiB

Open AccessReview

Ecological Function of Phenolic Compounds from Mediterranean Fucoid Algae and Seagrasses: An Overview on the Genus Cystoseira sensu lato and Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

by Anna Maria Mannino and Carla Micheli

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8010019 - 1 Jan 2020

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 7448

Abstract

Biodiversity is undergoing rapid and worrying changes, partially driven by anthropogenic activities. Human impacts and climate change (e.g., increasing temperature and ocean acidification), which act at different spatial scales, represent the most serious threats to biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. In the Mediterranean Sea, complex systems such as fucoid algae and seagrasses, characterized by a high associated biodiversity, are regularly exposed to natural and anthropogenic pressures. These systems, particularly sensitive to a variety of stressors, evolved several physiological and biochemical traits as a response to the different pressures which they are subjected to. For instance, they produce a huge quantity of secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, to adapt to different environmental stressors and to defend themselves from biological pressures. These natural products are receiving increasing attention due to their possible applications in a wide range of industrial sectors. In this paper we provide an overview on the ecological role of phenolic compounds from the genus Cystoseira sensu lato and Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, also highlighting their potential use as ecological biomarkers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plants)

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