Browsing by Author "Silva, Inga Isabel Esteves Barata Ferreira da"
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- Modeling the suitable habitat of a structural red gorgonian species in the Mediterranean/east Atlantic regions predicts a wider distribution than previously knownPublication . Silva, Inga Isabel Esteves Barata Ferreira da; Serrão, Ester; Assis, JorgeUnderstand how the distribution of deep-sea species is shaped by environment is a challenge for ecologists, given the difficulty of sampling at these locations. Paramuricea clavata is a long-lived species that inhabits the Mediterranean coralligenous assemblages. Its known distribution was so far described as being restricted to Mediterranean Sea, however, new populations were found in the neighboring Atlantic Ocean, suggesting a wider distribution. BRT is a modeling technique that uses algorithms to describe the relation between environmental and presence data, in order to assess species distribution. This method has been applied to ecological studies, showing good accuracy in predicting suitable habitats, since it copes well with the major problems associated with niche modeling. We use BRT to describe the suitable habitat of Paramuricea clavata by determining the variables that limit its distribution, and the species’ tolerance range for these variables. Our results accurately revealed that the suitable habitat is mainly characterized by complex bottom topography (represented by slope) and temperature, presenting a wide range for the first variable (> 0.3⁰) and a well-defined range for the second (12.3 to 26.5⁰C). In addition to the previous known distribution, new potential sites of occurrence were revealed in the Mediterranean Sea, along the coast of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Strait of Sicily, and on the Atlantic coasts between Morocco and southwest Iberia. With this study we were able to describe, for the first time, the ecological niche and potential global distribution of this important structuring species. Moreover, our results contribute to the achievement of future studies of monitoring and conservation of benthic communities in poorly-sampled areas. With the predicted climate change for Mediterranean, the occurrence of mortality events in benthic communities will continue, especially to those found in shallower areas, putting P. clavata at risk.