Sponges from rhodolith beds surrounding Ustica Island marine protected area (southern Tyrrhenian Sea), with a comprehensive inventory of the island sponge fauna

Caterina Longo; Giuseppe Corriero; Frine Cardone; Maria Mercurio; Cataldo Pierri; Carlotta Nonnis Marzano

doi:10.3989/scimar.04991.29A

Authors

Caterina Longo University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Biology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3123-1568
Giuseppe Corriero University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Biology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4076-5804
Frine Cardone University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Biology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8999-8254
Maria Mercurio University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Biology https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5567-6380
Cataldo Pierri University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Biology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6125-3322
Carlotta Nonnis Marzano University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Biology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1284-9610

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04991.29A

Keywords:

Porifera, Ustica Island, Mediterranean Sea, rhodolith beds, coralligenous formations, photophilous hard substrates, marine caves

Abstract

The sponge fauna colonizing rhodolith beds from Ustica Island marine protected area was studied. Moreover, an inventory of the sponge species present along the island’s coasts was carried out for the first time. Analysis of rhodoliths trapped in nets used by local fishermen at two sites and data obtained from underwater video images were used to identify 25 sponge taxa, 22 of them at species level. The classes Demospongiae and Homoscleromorpha were present with 24 and 1 species, respectively. Most of the specimens were small-sized and represented by thick crusts or short erect branches. Few specimens were insinuating or excavating. Furthermore, qualitative sampling was performed on Ustica’s coralligenous formations, photophilous hard substrates and in marine caves, and the results obtained were added to the literature data. The overall checklist of sponges from Ustica encompassed 97 taxa, 90 named at species level, subdivided into 6 taxa of Calcarea, 3 of Homoscleromorpha and 88 of Demospongiae. Eleven of the species were endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, mainly concentrated on rhodoliths and in marine caves. This research adds a fundamental element to the knowledge of invertebrates associated with rhodoliths, and updates the checklist of sponges colonizing Ustica’s waters, facilitating its future monitoring.

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