First data on ostracods and foraminifera living in Cystoseira communities in western Ionian Sea (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea)

Ostracod and foraminifera associations living on infralittoral algae in three different localities inside and outside the Ciclopi Islands Marine Protected Area (CIMPA), along the Ionian coast of Sicily, a few km N of Catania were analysed for the first time. A total of 19 samples were collected in three different Cystoseira communities, at 5, 10, and 26 m depth in areas where the Biocoenosis of the Infralittoral Algae develops. Ostracod associations include 22 living species but only 7 make up the bulk of associations, which consist of shallow water phytal taxa and infralittoral sediment-dwelling taxa. The family Xestoleberididae dominates, especially in the shallowest samples, followed by representatives of Paradoxostomatidae, Hemicytheridae, and Bairdidae. Loxoconchidae, Pontocyprididae and Cytheruridae are subordinate. Foraminifera include 55 taxa, but only 14 species are frequent and abundant, accounting for the majority of specimens in individual samples. Associations are almost exclusively represented by benthic phytal taxa. The family Miliolidae prevails, followed by Elphidiidae, Rotaliidae, Rosalinidae, and Discorbidae. Cibidididae and Planorbulinidae are subordinate. Both ostracod and foraminifer associations include species already known from the Mediterranean Sea. Ecological analysis, based on phytal- to sediment-dweller ratios for ostracods, and on trophic requirements and mobility behaviour for foraminifera, clearly indicates a vegetate bottom characterised by stress conditions, especially related to environmental high energy, leading to the selection of a few particularly adapted species. The removal of skeletons contributes bioclasts for carbonate production in deeper areas. Differences between investigated localities and communities at different depths, are hardly evident, especially with foraminifera