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Increasing heterogeneity of sensitive assemblages as a consequence of human impact in submarine caves

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Abstract

Submarine caves are considered as a top priority for conservation, but the effects of common pressures are poorly known for these habitats. Here, we examined the effect of recreational human visitation on a selection of submarine caves in a Mediterranean Marine Protected Area (40°35′40″N; 8°11′39″E) where diving activities are regulated. Sampling was conducted in visited and not visited caves to assess whether diving activities have a significant effect on cave habitats, what are the components of biodiversity most affected by this disturbance, and its potential effects on spatial heterogeneity of benthic assemblages. Results clearly showed that human visitation could significantly affect spatial patterns of benthic assemblages. Organisms with erect growth forms were significantly more abundant and homogeneously distributed where diving activities are forbidden. An increase in the small-scale heterogeneity of assemblages and a decrease in their three-dimensional structure could be the ultimate consequences of human visitation. The interaction between specific stressors and the patterns of distribution of species and assemblages can drive their spatial heterogeneity also in unique habitats like marine caves, representing an early warning for the development of appropriate management measures.

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Acknowledgments

We dedicate this paper to the memory of Dario Romano and Gaetano Ferruzza. Thanks are due to the Marine Protected Area of Capo Caccia and to Gaddo Risso (Capo Galera Diving Center) for the technical support. G.F. Russo and F. Di Stefano kindly provided data on scuba diver frequentation. This study was funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and of the Safeguard of the Territory and of the Sea (Studio degli ambienti di grotte sommerse (CODICE HABITAT 8330) nelle Aree Marine Protette di Pelagie, Plemmirio e Capo Caccia). The contributes of European Union (VECTORS, PERSEUS, and COCONET integrated project), of the Experimental Ecology Research Centre on Biodiversity, Organisation and Ecosystem Functioning of the University of Salento and of the Centro Euro-Mediterraneo per i Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) in terms of frameworks for discussions are also acknowledged.

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  1. Laboratorio Zoologia e Biologia Marina, Dipartimento Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Università del Salento, CoNISMa, Campus Ecotekne, 73100, Lecce, Italy

    Giuseppe Guarnieri, Antonio Terlizzi, Stanislao Bevilacqua & Simonetta Fraschetti

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  1. Giuseppe Guarnieri
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  2. Antonio Terlizzi
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  4. Simonetta Fraschetti
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Correspondence to Simonetta Fraschetti.

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Communicated by F. Bulleri.

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Guarnieri, G., Terlizzi, A., Bevilacqua, S. et al. Increasing heterogeneity of sensitive assemblages as a consequence of human impact in submarine caves. Mar Biol 159, 1155–1164 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1895-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1895-8

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