Page 2 - Bioconstructions_2018

62 Gianmarco Ingrosso et al.

Contents

1. Introduction 63
2. Patterns 64
2.1 What Is a Bioconstruction? 64
2.2 Mediterranean Bioconstructions: Biodiversity and Distribution Along
the Italian Coasts 66
3. Processes 85
3.1 Building/Bioeroding Processes and the Age of Bioconstructions 85
3.2 Connectivity 89
4. Measures 96
4.1 Major Threats to Mediterranean Bioconstructions 96
4.2 Current Conservation Measures 106
5. Guidelines and Recommendations: A Holistic Approach to Support
Management and Conservation Strategies 108
6. Conclusions 113
Acknowledgements 114
References 114

Abstract

Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures,
regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral
reefs are outstanding for their beauty, diversity and complexity, but analogous types
of bioconstructions are also present in temperate seas. The main bioconstructions in
the Mediterranean Sea are represented by coralligenous formations, vermetid reefs,
deep-sea cold-water corals, Lithophyllum byssoides trottoirs, coral banks formed by the
shallow-water corals Cladocora caespitosa or Astroides calycularis, and sabellariid or
serpulid worm reefs. Bioconstructions change the morphological and chemicophysical
features of primary substrates and create new habitats for a large variety of organisms,
playing pivotal roles in ecosystem functioning. In spite of their importance, Mediterranean
bioconstructions have not received the same attention that tropical coral reefs have, and
the knowledge of their biology, ecology and distribution is still fragmentary. All existing
data about the spatial distribution of Italian bioconstructions have been collected,
together with information about their growth patterns, dynamics and connectivity.
The degradation of these habitats as a consequence of anthropogenic pressures (pollu-
tion, organic enrichment, fishery, coastal development, direct physical disturbance), cli-
mate change and the spread of invasive species was also investigated.
The study of bioconstructions requires a holistic approach leading to a better
understanding of their ecology and the application of more insightful management
and conservation measures at basin scale, within ecologically coherent units based
on connectivity: the cells of ecosystem functioning.