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Effects of gastropod predation on the reproductive output of an overexploited deep octocoral

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Abstract

The study presented herein is aimed at quantifying the effects of the partial predation exerted by the gastropod Pseudosimnia carnea on the reproductive features of the highly valuable, slow-growing, and long-lived red coral, Corallium rubrum. Seventy-five colonies were collected just before annual spawning from a red coral population living between 85 and 90 m deep in the NW Mediterranean; of these, 35 % were affected by P. carnea. Female colonies were more frequently preyed upon than males (3:1 ratio). Overall, 1,100 polyps were dissected and examined for their reproductive content. The mean number of polyps per colony and the mean fecundity of female polyps and colonies were significantly reduced by gastropod predation, which affected colonies independently of their size; in particular, colony fecundity was reduced by 81 %. The consequent reduction in population reproductive output is likely to have long-term effects on preyed-upon populations and thereby limit their resilience to intense commercial harvesting.

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Acknowledgments

This research is part of the project “Study of red coral deep-dwelling populations: structure, demography, and genetics”, of the Italian Env. Ministry. It has also been funded by the European COREM project and the CPR-710 Sardinia Region Project. We wish to thank the crew of the RV Astrea for their efficient support, A. Ferrucci and R. Rinaldi for their invaluable help in collecting deep-dwelling coral colonies, Prof. G. Dryden, A. Cafazzo, and the reviewers for their careful revision of the text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    C. Priori, F. Erra & G. Santangelo

  2. Department of Habitat and Marine Biodiversity Protection, ISPRA, Via Brancati 60, 00144, Rome, Italy

    M. Angiolillo

Authors
  1. C. Priori
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  2. F. Erra
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  3. M. Angiolillo
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  4. G. Santangelo
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Correspondence to C. Priori.

Additional information

Communicated by Handling Editor Howard R. Lasker

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Priori, C., Erra, F., Angiolillo, M. et al. Effects of gastropod predation on the reproductive output of an overexploited deep octocoral. Coral Reefs 34, 59–63 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-014-1223-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-014-1223-5

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