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Mediterranean Bioconstructions Along the Italian Coast 67
Fig. 1 (A) P. oceanica meadow). (B) Distribution of P. oceanica along the Italian coast.
Points represent data with no associated surface area and rectangles stand for polygons
with a specific area characterized by the presence of P. oceanica. Boundaries of points
and polygons of data layers are enhanced for illustrative purposes and do not reflect
the real habitat extent. Panel (A): Alberto Gennari. Panel (B): EMODnet biology database;
Belluscio, A., Panayiotidis, P., Gristina, M., Knittweis, L., Pace, M.L., Telesca, L., et al., 2013.
Seagrass beds distribution along the Mediterranean coasts. Mediterranean Sensitive Habitats
(MEDISEH) Final Report, DG MARE Specific Contract SI2.600741.
All these structures have a great importance in generating and maintaining
marine biodiversity, since they increase spatial complexity and settlement
opportunities (MacArthur and MacArthur, 1961; Rebele, 1994). Other
Mediterranean bioformations, like rhodoliths and mae ¨rl beds, barnacles of
