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Spatial Variability in the Distribution of Sponges and Cnidarians in a Sublittoral Marine Cave with Sulphur-Water Springs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

L. Benedetti-Cecchi ,
L. Airoldi ,
M. Abbiati  and
F. Cinelli
L. Benedetti-Cecchi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, 1–56126 Pisa, Italy
L. Airoldi
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, 1–56126 Pisa, Italy
M. Abbiati
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, 1–56126 Pisa, Italy
F. Cinelli
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Ambiente e del Territorio, Università di Pisa, Via A. Volta 6, 1–56126 Pisa, Italy
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Extract

The distribution of sponges (Aplysilla sulfurea, Geodia cydonium and Petrosia ficiformis) and cnidarians (Astroides calycularis, Caryophyllia inornata and Leptosammia pruvoti) was investigated in a sublittoral cave with sulphur water springs from May 1993 to February 1994 at Capo Palinuro, on the south-western coast of Italy. Multi-factorial sampling designs were used to address: (1) the distribution and abundance of sponges and cnidarians on the vault and the sides of the cave at different distances from the entrance; (2) the distribution of cnidarians on the vault of the cave with respect to the type of substratum (sponges vs others) and distance from the entrance; and (3) whether abundances were correlated with the distance from the sulphur boundary and how this relationships changed moving from the outer to the inner part of the cave. All the sources of variation included in the study affected to some degree the distribution of organisms but patterns were not consistent among species. The abundance of A. calycularis decreased proceeding from the outer to the inner part of the cave, while the reverse was observed for L. pruvoti. Differences also occurred between the vault and the sides, A. calycularis and G. cydonium being completely absent on the vertical walls. Both A. calycularis and L. pruvoti were less abundant on sponges than on other types of substratum, but patterns changed in relation to the distance from the entrance. The abundance of L. pruvoti decreased close to the sulphur boundary, while the percentage cover of A. calycularis increased, but only at outer positions. Strong variability also occurred at the spatial scale of a few metres (between replicated areas) often overriding other patterns of distribution. Results have been discussed in terms of variability in the physico-chemical environment and in the outcome of interspecific interactions.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 78 , Issue 1 , February 1998 , pp. 43 - 58
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1998

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