TY - JOUR AU - Piazzi, Luigi AU - Balata, David AU - Foresi, Luca AU - Cristaudo, Cristina AU - Cinelli, Francesco PY - 2007/03/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Sediment as a constituent of Mediterranean benthic communities dominated by Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea JF - Scientia Marina JA - Sci. mar. VL - 71 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - 10.3989/scimar.2007.71n1129 UR - https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/38 SP - 129-135 AB - <p align=justify>Mediterranean macroalgal assemblages in areas invaded and non-invaded by <em>Caulerpa racemosa </em>var. <em>cylindracea </em>were compared and trapped sediments were characterised. Results showed that assemblages invaded by <em>C. racemosa </em>var. <em>cylindracea </em>differed greatly from non-invaded ones: encrusting and erect algae, both articulated and foliose, decreased in invaded areas, while opportunistic filamentous species increased their abundance The percentage of sediment was 7 times higher in areas invaded by <em>C. racemosa </em>var. <em>cylindracea </em>than in non-invaded areas. Characteristics of trapped sediments were similar in all the studied assemblages, while redox values were lower in the invaded ones. Results suggested that sediment constitutes an important component in <em>C. racemosa </em>var. <em>cylindracea </em>populations, probably enhancing the competitive ability of this species. </p> ER -