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The effect of shipwrecks on associated fish assemblages in the central Mediterranean Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2014

Pierpaolo Consoli ,
Andrea Martino ,
Teresa Romeo ,
Mauro Sinopoli ,
Patrizia Perzia ,
Simonepietro Canese ,
Pietro Vivona  and
Franco Andaloro
Pierpaolo Consoli*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Milazzo, ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, via dei Mille 44, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy
Andrea Martino
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Milazzo, ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, via dei Mille 44, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy
Teresa Romeo
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Milazzo, ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, via dei Mille 44, 98057 Milazzo, ME, Italy
Mauro Sinopoli
Affiliation:
ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, c/o Residence Marbela, via Salvatore Puglisi 9, 90143 Palermo, Italy
Patrizia Perzia
Affiliation:
ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, c/o Residence Marbela, via Salvatore Puglisi 9, 90143 Palermo, Italy
Simonepietro Canese
Affiliation:
ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Vitaliano Brancati, 48, 00166 Roma, Italy
Pietro Vivona
Affiliation:
ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, c/o Residence Marbela, via Salvatore Puglisi 9, 90143 Palermo, Italy
Franco Andaloro
Affiliation:
ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, c/o Residence Marbela, via Salvatore Puglisi 9, 90143 Palermo, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: P. Consoli, Laboratory of Milazzo, ISPRA, Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, via dei Mille 4498057 Milazzo, ME, Italy email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Understanding the role played by sunken vessels in Mediterranean marine ecosystems is acquiring increasing importance. The aim of this research was to study the fish communities associated with four shipwrecks, by means of underwater visual censuses performed by a remotely operated vehicle, and to test the differences in composition of fish assemblages between these shipwrecks and the adjacent soft bottoms, considered as control sites. Multivariate analysis on the total fish assemblage showed significant differences between wrecks and controls. Results also showed higher levels of species richness and abundance near all wrecks than at a short distance from them on soft bottoms, thus indicating that these sunken vessels, thanks to their higher habitat complexity, act as artificial reefs, attracting aggregations of fish species and leading to a greater diversification of the local fish assemblage. Nevertheless, shipwrecks, which are an ideal target for recreational fishermen, could contribute to the over-exploitation of some high-value fish species, such as Mycteroperca rubra, Dentex dentex and Diplodus spp., attracted by the artificial hard substrate of the vessel-reefs. The recent European directives suggest an urgent need for a better understanding of the crucial role played by these potential sources of pollutants on marine environments and ecosystems. An ecosystem approach to study and monitor these pollutant sources is, therefore, mandatory for appropriate remediation and/or mitigation of the potential negative effects on a productive and healthy ocean.

Keywords

fish diversityremotely operated vehicleunderwater visual censusartificial habitat
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 95 , Issue 1 , February 2015 , pp. 17 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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