Bathymetrical distribution and size structure of cold-water coral populations in the Cap de Creus and Lacaze-Duthiers canyons (northwestern Mediterranean)

• Published in: Biogeosciences
• Main Authors: Gori, Andrea, Orejas, Covadonga, Madurell, Teresa, Bramanti, Lorenzo, Martins, M., Quintanilla, Elena, Martí Puig, Patricia, Lo Iacono, Claudio, Puig, Pere, Requena Moreno, Susana, Greenacre, Michael, Gili, Josep Maria
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: European Geosciences Union (EGU)
• Subjects: Duthiers; Lacaze-Duthiers; Lophelia pertusa
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10230/44981; https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2049-2013

Submarine canyons are known as one of the seafloor morphological features where living cold-water coral (CWC) communities develop in the Mediterranean Sea. We investigated the CWC community of the two westernmost submarine canyons of the Gulf of Lions canyon system: the Cap de Creus Canyon (CCC) and Lacaze-Duthiers Canyon (LDC). Coral associations have been studied through video material recorded by means of a manned submersible and a remotely operated vehicle. Video transects have been conducted and analyzed in order to obtain information on (1) coral bathymetric distribution and density patterns, (2) size structure of coral populations, and (3) coral colony position with respect to the substrate. Madrepora oculata was the most abundant CWC in both canyons, while Lophelia pertusa and Dendrophyllia cornigera mostly occurred as isolated colonies or in small patches. An important exception was detected in a vertical cliff in LDC where a large L. pertusa framework was documented. This is the first record of such an extended L. pertusa framework in the Mediterranean Sea. In both canyons coral populations were dominated by medium and large colonies, but the frequent presence of small-sized colonies also indicate active recruitment. The predominant coral orientation (90° and 135°) is probably driven by the current regime as well as by the sediment load transported by the current flows. In general, no clear differences were observed in the abundance and in the size structure of the CWC populations between CCC and LDC, despite large differences in particulate matter between canyons. This work was funded by the European project LIFE + INDEMARES “Inventario y designación de la red natura 2000 en áreas marinas del estado español” (LIFE07/NAT/E/000732), and HERMIONE (Grant Agreement Number 226354), the Spanish project DEEP CORAL (CTM2005-07756-C02-02/MAR), the Acciones Complementarias (CTM2005-24174-E, CTM2006- 27063-E/MAR, CTM2007- 28758-E/MAR), and the Agence des Aires Marines Protegees (AAMP) for organizing and financing the MEDSEACAN cruises. A. G., C. O., T. M. and C. L. I. were supported by I3P and JAEDOC contract of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas.