Spatial and depth-associated distribution patterns of shallow gorgonians in the Algarve coast (Portugal, NE Atlantic)

Cúrdia, João; Monteiro, Pedro; Afonso, Carlos; Santos, Miguel N.; Cunha, Marina R.; Gonçalves, J. M. S.

Publication

Spatial and depth-associated distribution patterns of shallow gorgonians in the Algarve coast (Portugal, NE Atlantic)

2013Journal article

dc.contributor.author	Cúrdia, João
dc.contributor.author	Monteiro, Pedro
dc.contributor.author	Afonso, Carlos
dc.contributor.author	Santos, Miguel N.
dc.contributor.author	Cunha, Marina R.
dc.contributor.author	Gonçalves, J. M. S.
dc.date.accessioned	2017-01-17T10:42:33Z
dc.date.available	2017-01-17T10:42:33Z
dc.date.issued	2013
dc.description.abstract	The ecological role of gorgonians for marine rocky bottoms is worldwide recognized, but the information on the distribution patterns of NE Atlantic temperate species is insufficient, considering current global, regional and local threats. To overcome the lack of information on the spatial distribution patterns of gorgonians in south Portugal, in 2009/2010, the occurrence and abundance of gorgonian species in rocky bottoms were quantified over more than 25 km of coast (37.1N/8.6W) down to 30 m depth. Eunicella labiata, Eunicella gazella, Eunicella verrucosa and Leptogorgia sarmentosa were abundant and frequent in the studied area, while Leptogorgia lusitanica was less abundant. All species evidenced a similar depth pattern, that is abundance significantly increased with depth below 15 m. At shallower waters (up to 15 m), the distribution of gorgonians may be constrained by abiotic factors and competition with algae. Indeed, the abundance of gorgonians was negatively correlated with the percentage cover of algae along the depth gradient, but gorgonians and sponges coexist. Competition among gorgonian species also seems to be low in this area because of the similarity in the abundance pattern observed for the most abundant species and also their high association. In NE Atlantic shallow temperate rocky bottoms, the distribution of gorgonians seems to be influenced by environmental factors and biological interactions, namely competition (algae) and coexistence (sponges and other gorgonians).	pt_PT
dc.description.version	info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion	pt_PT
dc.identifier.doi	10.1007/s10152-012-0340-1	pt_PT
dc.identifier.other	AUT: JGO02808;
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/8936
dc.language.iso	eng	pt_PT
dc.peerreviewed	yes	pt_PT
dc.publisher	Springer Verlag	pt_PT
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/	pt_PT
dc.subject	Gorgonians	pt_PT
dc.subject	Leptogorgia	pt_PT
dc.subject	Eunicella	pt_PT
dc.subject	Spatial distribution	pt_PT
dc.subject	Rocky bottoms	pt_PT
dc.subject	Biological interactions	pt_PT
dc.title	Spatial and depth-associated distribution patterns of shallow gorgonians in the Algarve coast (Portugal, NE Atlantic)	pt_PT
dc.type	journal article
dspace.entity.type	Publication
oaire.citation.endPage	534	pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage	521	pt_PT
oaire.citation.title	Helgoland Marine Research	pt_PT
oaire.citation.volume	67	pt_PT
person.familyName	Monteiro
person.familyName	Afonso
person.familyName	Gonçalves
person.givenName	Pedro
person.givenName	Carlos
person.givenName	Jorge Manuel Santos
person.identifier	356846
person.identifier.ciencia-id	1013-ED6A-65EB
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0003-1446-8256
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0002-9084-2177
person.identifier.orcid	0000-0001-7704-8190
person.identifier.rid	D-4995-2009
person.identifier.rid	G-5206-2011
person.identifier.scopus-author-id	7103326116
rcaap.rights	restrictedAccess	pt_PT
rcaap.type	article	pt_PT
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