Bryozoans are among the main colonizers of marine caves. Nevertheless, their diversity in sea caves of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea remains largely understudied. During the last decade several marine caves were surveyed with SCUBA diving in insular areas and rocky peninsulas of the Aegean Sea in the framework of different research expeditions. Numerous qualitative samples were collected in order to enrich taxonomic accounts for this phylum from this area. Examination of the collected material revealed 58 taxa from 15 caves across seven Greek islands (Agios Efstratios, Antikeri, Pantieronissi, Polyaigos, Crete, Karpathos and Saria) and Chalkidiki Peninsula in North Greece. The majority of the identified taxa belonged to Cheilostomatida (43), followed by Cyclostomatida (13) and Ctenostomatida (2). Four taxa constitute new records for the bryozoan fauna of Greece, while several are reported for the first time from marine caves of the Aegean Sea. In addition, some unidentified taxa constitute candidate new records for this marine area or possibly undescribed species.
New insights into the bryozoan diversity of marine caves of the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean).
Antonietta ROSSO;
2022-01-01
Abstract
Bryozoans are among the main colonizers of marine caves. Nevertheless, their diversity in sea caves of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea remains largely understudied. During the last decade several marine caves were surveyed with SCUBA diving in insular areas and rocky peninsulas of the Aegean Sea in the framework of different research expeditions. Numerous qualitative samples were collected in order to enrich taxonomic accounts for this phylum from this area. Examination of the collected material revealed 58 taxa from 15 caves across seven Greek islands (Agios Efstratios, Antikeri, Pantieronissi, Polyaigos, Crete, Karpathos and Saria) and Chalkidiki Peninsula in North Greece. The majority of the identified taxa belonged to Cheilostomatida (43), followed by Cyclostomatida (13) and Ctenostomatida (2). Four taxa constitute new records for the bryozoan fauna of Greece, while several are reported for the first time from marine caves of the Aegean Sea. In addition, some unidentified taxa constitute candidate new records for this marine area or possibly undescribed species.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
