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Biodiversity Journal, 2017, 8 (2): 643–645 MONOGRAPH

First assessment of the epifauna associated with macroalgae
of the vermetid reef along the coasts of Favignana Island

(South Tyrrhenian Sea)

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1*,
Maria Giulia Giangrasso Paolo Balistreri & Anna Maria Mannino 1
1 Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, Università di Palermo, Via Archirafi 38, 90123
Palermo, Italy
2 Vicolo Giotto 6, 91023 Favignana, Italy
* Corresponding author, email: mary_giuly@live.it

ABSTRACT With this study we provide a first baseline assessment of the epifauna associated with the
macroalgae of the vermetid reefs present along the coasts of the Island of Favignana (Egadi
Islands Marine Protected Area, Italy). A total of 14 taxa were identified. Epifaunal assem-
blages differed according to structure and composition of algal communities. The amphipod
group presented the highest number of individuals. The tubicolous species Ampithoe ramondi
Audouin, 1826 (Ampithoidae) was the most abundant species.

KEY WORDS Fauna biodiversity; Favignana Island; macroalgae; southern Tyrrhenian Sea; vermetid reef.
Received 30.04.2017; accepted 31.05.2017; printed 30.06.2017
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Proceedings of the 17 International Colloquium on Amphipoda (17 ICA), September 4 -7 2017, Trapani (Italy)

INTRODUCTION blages (Jones & Thornber, 2010). The aim of this
study was to analyse the epifauna associated with
Vermetid reefs are bioconstructions built up by the macroalgae inhabiting the out margin of the
the gastropod mollusc Dendropoma cristatum vermetid reefs along the coasts of Favignana Island
(Biondi, 1859) (Vermetidae) in association with (Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area). A recent
some coralline algae such as Neogoniolithon bras- analysis of the vermetid reefs along the coasts of
sica-florida (Harvey) Setchell et Mason. In Sicily, Favignana Island displayed at least three local pat-
large and more or less continuous vermetid reefs terns (Balistreri et al., 2015). Since the outer mar-
are present along the entire coast facing north/ gin of the diverse typologies was inhabited by
northwest between Zafferano Cape and the coast different macroalgal communities, we hypothe-
of Trapani with the Marine Protected Area (MPA) sized that epifaunal assemblages differed in rela-
“Egadi Islands” (Chemello, 2009). These biocon- tion to the structure and composition of macroalgal
structions play a fundamental structural role, as community. We report here the first results of this
they protect coasts from erosion, regulate sediment study.
transport and accumulation, serve as carbon sinks,
make the habitat more complex and heterogeneous
and provide numerous habitats for animal and veg- MATERIAL AND METHODS
etal species thus increasing intertidal biodiversity
(Chemello, 2009). Macroalgae may have an impor- The study was carried out in summer 2016 in
tant role in structuring associated epifaunal assem- ten areas chosen along the coasts of Favignana Is-