Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T16:02:06.309Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Spatial and seasonal distribution of ascidians in a semi-enclosed basin of the Mediterranean Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 July 2008

F. Mastrototaro*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
G. D'Onghia
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: F. Mastrototaro Department of ZoologyUniversity of BariVia E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy email: [email protected]

Abstract

A total of 25 species of ascidians were collected in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto, a semi-enclosed Mediterranean basin. Three are non-indigenous for the Mediterranean Sea: Microcosmus squamiger, Polyandrocarpa zorritensis and Distaplia bermudensis. The substrate features, season and depth affect the distribution of ascidians in the study area. Some species, such as Pyura dura and Pyura microcosmus, were found only on artificial substrates, while Ascidiella aspersa was almost exclusively recovered on natural bottoms. Seasonal variation in the ascidian distribution and abundance seems to be due mainly to their biological cycles, larval recruitment and adaptation. During the autumn and winter the most abundant species were Clavelina phlegraea and Ciona intestinalis, while A.aspersa was particularly abundant during spring. Depth and more directly light intensity play an important role in ascidian distribution. In the upper few metres the shallow-water species Polyandrocarpa zorritensis was abundant due to its photopositive larvae. Even though the distribution and abundance changed significantly between substrates, seasons and depths, the most abundant species in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto were Clavelina phlegraea, Ciona intestinalis and Styela plicata all of which are able to tolerate the variations in environmental conditions, low rate of water renewal and continuous silting of this semi-enclosed sea. Assuming the role that the above mentioned species have as marine pollution indicators and the abundance recorded for some of them, a high degree of environmental stress can be confirmed for the Mar Piccolo of Taranto. A comparative list of the ascidians recorded in this and previous studies is also reported.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brunetti, R. (1978–79) Polyandrocarpa zorritensis (Van Name, 1931) a colonial ascidian new to the Mediterranean record. Vie et Milieu 28–29, 647652.Google Scholar
Brunetti, R. (1987) Species of Clavelina of the Mediterranean Sea. Annales de l'Instut Océanographique Paris, Nouvelle Série 63, 101118.Google Scholar
Brunetti, R. and Mastrototaro, F. (2004) The non-indigenous stolidobranch ascidian Polyandrocarpa zorritensis in the Mediterranean: description, larval morphology and pattern of vascular budding. Zootaxa 528, 18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brunetti, R. and Menin, F. (1977) Ascidians of the Laguna Veneta. II. Distributions and ecological observations. Bollettino Zoologico 44, 337352.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cardellicchio, N., Annicchiarico, C., Leone, G., Marra, C., Paterno, P., Piraino, S. and Ragone, P. (1991) I mari di Taranto: problematiche di impatto ambientale. Società Italiana di Ecologia Atti 12, 769775.Google Scholar
Cecere, E., Cormaci, M. and Furnari, G. (1991) The marine algae of Mar Piccolo, Taranto (Southern Italy): a re-assessment. Botanica Marina 34, 221227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cecere, E. and Petrocelli, A. (2004) Floristic and biogeographic considerations about the benthic macroalgal flora in the Gulf of Taranto. Biogeographia 25, 718.Google Scholar
Cecere, E., Petrocelli, A. and Saracino, O.D. (2000) Undaria pinnatifida (Fucophyceae, Laminariales) spread in the Central Mediterranean: its occurrence in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy). Cryptogamie, Algologie 21, 305309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cecere, E., Saracino, O.D., Fanelli, M. and Petrocelli, A. (1992) Presence of a drifting algal bed in the Mar Piccolo basin, Taranto (Ionian Sea, Southern Italy). Journal of Applied Phycology 4, 15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, K.R. and Warwick, R.M. (2001) Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation, 2nd edition. Plymouth: PRIMER-E.Google Scholar
Galil, B.S. (2000) A sea under siege—alien species in the Mediterranean. Biological Invasions 2, 177186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kott, P. (1985) The Australian Ascidiacea part 1, Phlebobranchia and Stolidobranchia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 23, 1440.Google Scholar
Lambert, C.C. and Lambert, G. (1998) Non-indigenous ascidians in southern California harbors and marinas. Marine Biology 130, 675688.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lambert, C.C. and Lambert, G. (2003) Persistence and differential distribution of nonindigenous ascidians in harbors of the Southern California Bight. Marine Ecology Progress Series 259, 145161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liaci, L., Tursi, A. and Sciscioli, M. (1977) Relazione tra insediamento e riproduzione di Ciona intestinalis (L.). Memorie di Biologia Marina e di Oceanologia II, 6175.Google Scholar
Mastrototaro, F. and Brunetti, R. (2006) The non-indigenous ascidian Distaplia bermudensis in the Mediterranean: comparison with the native species Distaplia magnilarva and Distaplia lucillae sp. nov. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 86, 181185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mastrototaro, F. and Dappiano, M. (2005) New record of the non indigenous species Microcosmus squamiger Michaelsen, 1927 (Ascidiacea, Stolidobranchia) in the harbour of Salerno (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). JMBA2 – Biodiversity Records Published online.Google Scholar
Mastrototaro, F., Matarrese, A. and D'Onghia, G. (2003) Occurrence of Musculista senhousia (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in the Taranto Seas (eastern-central Mediterranean Sea). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 83, 12791280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mastrototaro, F., Panetta, P. and D'Onghia, G. (2004a) Further records of Melibe viridis (Mollusca, Nudibranchia) in the Mediterranean Sea, with observation of spawn. Vie et Milieu 54, 251253.Google Scholar
Mastrototaro, F., Petrocelli, A., Cecere, E. and Matarrese, A. (2004b) Non indigenous species settle down in the Taranto seas. Biogeographia 25, 5563.Google Scholar
Matarrese, A., Mastrototaro, F., D'Onghia, G., Maiorano, P. and Tursi, A. (2004) Mapping of the benthic communities in the Taranto seas using side-scan sonar and under-water video camera. Chemistry and Ecology 20, 37386.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Matarrese, A., Tursi, A. and Scalera Liaci, L. (1980a) Fenomeni di insediamento di alcuni Ascidiacei del Mar Piccolo di Taranto. Oebalia VI, 5362.Google Scholar
Matarrese, A., Tursi, A., Scalera Liaci, L., Montanaro, C. and Cecere, E. (1980b) Variazioni di biomassa nell'ascidiofauna presente sui substrati duri del Mar Piccolo di Taranto. Oebalia VI, 6379.Google Scholar
McBurney, J.G.R. (1978) Measurement of Invertebrate Biomass by Volume. The New Zealand Entomologist 6, 428429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Millar, R.H. (1971) The biology of Ascidians. Advances in Marine Biology 9, 1100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mistri, M. (2002) Ecological characteristics of the immigrant Asian date mussel, Musculista senhousia, in the Sacca di Goro (Adriatic Sea, Italy). Estuaries 25, 431440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Monniot, C. (1981) Apparition de l'ascidie Microcosmus exasperatus dans les ports Méditerranées. Téthys 10, 5962.Google Scholar
Monniot, C., Monniot, F., Griffiths, C. and Schleyer, M. (2001) South African ascidians. Annals of the South African Museum 108, 1141.Google Scholar
Naranjo, S.A., Carballo, J.L. and Garcìa-Gòmez, J.C. (1996) Effects of environmental stress on ascidian populations in Algeciras Bay (southern Spain). Possible marine bioindicators? Marine Ecology Progress Series 144, 119131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Occhipinti Ambrogi, A. (2001) Transfer of marine organisms a challenge to the conservation of coastal biocenoses. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 11, 243251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Papadopoulou, C. and Kanias, G.D. (1977) Tunicate species as marine pollution indicators. Marine Pollution Bulletin 8, 229231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paparella, P., Vaccarella, R., Sarcinella, V. and Marano, G. (1996) Gli Ascidiacei indicatori di contaminazione organica. Società Italiana di Ecologia Atti 17, 391393.Google Scholar
Parenzan, P. (1969) Il Mar Piccolo e il Mar Grande di Taranto — Carta biocenotica. Thalassa Salentina 3, 1934.Google Scholar
Parenzan, P. (1983) Puglia marittima Galatina (LE), Italy: Congedo editore, pp. 688.Google Scholar
Salfi, M. (1929) Sulla blastogenesi in Clavelina e su una nuova specie del genere. Pubblicazioni Stazione Zoologica di Napoli 9, 195201.Google Scholar
Salfi, M. (1931) Gli Ascidiacei del Golfo di Napoli. Pubblicazioni Stazione Zoologica di Napoli 11, 293360.Google Scholar
Svane, I. (1984) Observations on the long-term population dynamics of the perennial ascidian, Ascidia mentula O. F. Müller, on the Swedish west coast. Sarsia 67, 249257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Svane, I. and Young, C.M. (1989) The ecology and behaviour of ascidian larvae. Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review 27, 4590.Google Scholar
Turon, X. (1988) The ascidians of Tossa de Mar (NE Spain). II. Biological cycles of the colonial species. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 29, 407418.Google Scholar
Turon, X., Nishikawa, T. and Rius, M. (2007) Spread of Microcosmus squamiger (Ascidiacea: Pyuridae) in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent waters. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 342, 185188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tursi, A. (1980) Ascidiacei—guida per il riconoscimento delle specie animali delle acque lagunari e costiere italiane. CNR 4, 183.Google Scholar
Tursi, A., Gherardi, M. and Lepore, E. (1974a) Andamento stagionale di alcuni Ascidiacei del Mar Piccolo di Taranto: dati preliminari. Memorie di Biologia Marina e di Oceanografia IV, 421434.Google Scholar
Tursi, A., Gherardi, M., Lepore, E. and Chieppa, M. (1976) Settlement and growth of Ascidians on experimental panels in two harbours of Southern Italy. Proceedings of the IVth International Congress on Marine Corrosion and Fouling, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, pp. 535543.Google Scholar
Tursi, A., Matarrese, A. and Scalera Liaci, L. (1977) Fenomeni di insediamento in Clavelina lepadiformis (Müller) (Tunicata). Oebalia 3, 316.Google Scholar
Tursi, A., Matarrese, A., Sciscioli, M., Vaccarella, R. and Chieppa, M. (1979) Variazioni di biomassa nel Mar Piccolo di Taranto e loro rapporto con i banchi naturali di Mitili. Oebalia 5, 4970.Google Scholar
Tursi, A., Pastore, M. and Panetta, P. (1974b) Aspetti ecologici del Mar Piccolo di Taranto. Ascidie, Crostacei Decapodi e Molluschi. Oebalia 2, 93117.Google Scholar
Tursi, A. and Scalera Liaci, L. (1983) Settlement periods of ascidians in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto in ten years 1972–1982. Oebalia IX, 6580.Google Scholar
Van Name, W.G. (1945) The North and South American Ascidians. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 84, 283494.Google Scholar
Vazquez, E. and Young, C.M. (1998) Ontogenetic changes in phototaxis during larval life of the ascidian Polyandrocarpa zorritensis (Van Name, 1931). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 231, 267277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watanabe, H. and Lambert, C. (1973) Larva release in response to light by the compound ascidians Distaplia occidentalis and Metandrocarpa taylori. Biological Bulletin 144, 556566.CrossRefGoogle Scholar