Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume - Posters
MANAGEMENT OF THE COASTAL ZONE COMMITEE
recorded in 12 caves, while Gammogobius steinitzi and Didogobius splechtnai in 7 and
4 caves, respectively. It is worth noting the presence, inside some caves, of fish
inserted in the IUCN Red List (http://www.iucnredlist.org), like Epinephelus
marginatus and Dasyatis centroura (exclusively found at the Lampedusa MPA).
Fig. 1 – Number of species of fish species inside each cave at the four MPAs.
Numero di specie ittiche all’interno di ciascuna grotta nelle quattro AMP.
This study suggests that: 1) differences in morphology and other structural
characteristics of marine caves may remarkably affect the species richness and
composition inside them and, therefore, 2) it is quite difficult to define a ‘typical’ fish
assemblage of cave habitats. Fish living in marine caves (e.g. speleophilic gobids or
threatened species) may actually contribute to local diversity, with implications for
conservation and management.
References
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PARRAVICINI V., GUIDETTI P., MORRI C., MONTEFALCONE M., DONATO M., BIANCHI
C.N. (2010) - Consequences of sea water temperature anomalies on a Mediterranean submarine
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RIEDL R. (1966) - Biologie der Meereshohlen. Paul Parey, Hamburg and Berlin: 636 pp.
The study was done in the framework of the project 'Studio degli ambienti di grotte marine sommerse
(codice Habitat 8330) nelle Aree Marine Protette di Pelagie, Plemmirio e Capo Caccia', funded by the
'Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare'.
41 st S.I.B.M. CONGRESS Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010
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