Unexpected Refuge for Threatened Species Revealed by A Prolonged Low-Sea-Level Phase

Öz

The Sicily coast of Messina Strait (Central Mediterranean) is characterized by a rare beach rock formation, whose biotic features are poorly known. Situated near an amphidromic tidal point, the formation is not affected by tidal oscillations allowing the connected rocky pools to offer a relatively stable and suitable refuge for subtidal organisms. This environment, in February 2023, was affected by exceptional low sea levels caused by a prolonged high atmospheric pressure. The local fauna, not pre-adapted to such an unpredictable event, experienced a mass mortality episode that revealed an unexpectedly high biodiversity. Exclusively considering the megabenthic fauna, 63 species have been detected. Between them, species of great conservation interest, are the gastropods Naria spurca, Luria lurida, Vermetus triquetrus, and Talisman scrobilator, the bivalve Pinna rudis, and the echinoderm Ophidiaster ophidianus, which were reported for the first time from such formations. These records show that beach rock is a habitat worth conserving and one that is vulnerable to the effects of ongoing climate change.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• beach rock
• threatenedspecies
• habitat conservation
• mass mortality
• climate change

Uzun Süreli Düşük Deniz Seviyesi Süreciyle Ortaya Çıkan Tehdit Altındaki Türler İçin Beklenmedik Sığınak

Öz

Messina Boğazı'nın (Orta Akdeniz) Sicilya kıyıları, biyotik özellikleri az bilinen nadir bir sahil kaya oluşumuyla karakterizedir. Amfidromlu bir gelgit noktasının yakınında bulunan bu oluşum, gelgit dalgalanmalarından etkilenmemekte, bu da bağlantılı kayalık havuzların subtidal organizmalar için nispeten istikrarlı ve elverişli bir sığınak sunmasını sağlamaktadır. Bu çevre, Şubat 2023'te uzun süreli yüksek atmosferik basınç nedeniyle meydana gelen olağanüstü düşük deniz seviyelerinden etkilenmiştir. Yerel fauna, böyle öngörülemeyen bir olaya önceden adapte olmamış olduğundan, kitlesel bir ölüm olayı yaşamış ve bu durum beklenmedik derecede yüksek bir biyoçeşitliliği ortaya çıkarmıştır. Yalnızca megabentik fauna dikkate alındığında 63 tür tespit edilmiştir. Bu türler arasında büyük koruma önemi taşıyan gastropodlar Naria spurca, Luria lurida, Vermetus triquetrus ve Talisman scrobilator, çift kabuklular Pinna rudis ve derisidikenliler Ophidiaster ophidianus yer almaktadır ve ilk kez bu oluşumlarda kaydedilmiştir. Bu kayıtlar, sahil kaya habitatlarının korunmaya değer olduğunu ve devam eden iklim değişikliğinin etkilerine karşı savunmasız olduğunu göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sahil kayaları
• Tehdit altındaki türler
• Yaşam alanlarının korunması
• Kitlesel ölümler
• Iklim değişikliği

Kaynakça

1. Aparicio, B. C., & Verdejo, J. F. (2021). A reproductively active population of Talisman scrobilator (Linnaeus, 1758) (Caenogastropoda, Tonnoidea) in the southeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula, with a report on reproduction and feeding habits. Iberus, 39(2), 173–186.
2. Anthony, K. R. N., & Kerswell, A. P. (2007). Coral mortality following extreme low tides and high solar radiation. Marine Biology, 151(5), 1623–1631. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-006-0573-0
3. Barletta, G. (1980). Bursa scobiculator (L.) a Cabo de Gata (Spagna). Boll. Malac., 16(1–2), 26.
4. Barea-Azcón, J. M., Ballesteros-Duperón, E., & Moreno, D. (2008). Libro rojo de los invertebrados de Andalucía. Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía.
5. Bottari, A., Bottari, C., Carveni, P., Giacobbe, S., & Spanò, N. (2005). Genesis and geomorphologic and ecological evolution of the Ganzirri salt marsh (Messina, Italy). Quaternary International, 140–141, 150–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2005.07.001
6. Cannicci, S., Garcia, L., & Galil, B. S. (2008). Racing across the Mediterranean—first record of Percnon gibbesi (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) in Greece. Marine Biodiversity Records, 1, e32. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1755267206003009
7. Capillo, G., Panarello, G., Savoca, S., Sanfilippo, M., Albano, M., Li Volsi, R., Consolo, G., & Spanò, N. (2018). Intertidal ponds of Messina’s beachrock faunal assemblage, evaluation of ecosystem dynamics and communities’ interactions. Atti Accad. Pelor. Peric. – Cl. Sci. Fis. Mater. Nat., 96(S3), A4.
8. Chiappa, G., Fassio, G., Corso, A., Crocetta, F., Modica, M. V., & Oliverio, M. (2022). How many abalone species live in the Mediterranean Sea? Diversity, 14(12), 1107. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121107

9. Collard, S. B., Lugo-Fernandez, A., Fitzhugh, G., Brusher, J., & Shaffer, R. (2000). A mass mortality event in coastal waters of the Central Florida Panhandle during Spring and Summer 1998. Gulf of Mexico Science, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.18785/goms.1801.07
10. Connell, J. H. (1978). Diversity in tropical rainforests and coral reefs. Science, 199, 1302–1310. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.199.4335.1302
11. Conato, V., & Berdar, A. (1981). Le pozze litoranee di Ganzirri (Messina). Mem. Biol. Mar. e Ocean., 11(2), II, 73–90.
12. Cosentino, A., & Giacobbe, S. (2015). Mollusc assemblages of hard bottom subtidal fringe: A comparison between two coastal typologies. Biodiversity Journal, 6(1), 353–364.
13. Del Ricco, R. (1982). A numerical model of the vertical circulation of tidal strait and its application to the Messina Strait. Il Nuovo Cimento C, 5(1), 21–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02507687
14. Ghisotti, F. (1977). Rinvenimenti malacologici nel Mediterraneo (Segnalazioni del gruppo malacologico campano). Conchiglie, Milano, 13(11–12), 189–198.
15. Gatì, I., Scarfì, G., & Giacobbe, S. (2024). Mass mortality of the dirty cowrie, Naria spurca (Linnaeus, 1758), in the Strait of Messina, Italy. Marine Biodiversity, 54, 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-023-01401-9
16. Hoarau, L., Mouquet, P., Ropert, M., Cuvillier, A., Massé, L., Bonhommeau, S., … & Bajjouk, T. (2023). Negative sea level anomalies with extreme low tides in the South-West Indian Ocean shape Reunion Island’s fringing coral reef flats. Ecological Indicators, 154, 110508.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110508
17. Huchette, S. M. H., & Clavier, J. (2004). Status of the ormer (Haliotis tuberculata L.) industry in Europe. Journal of Shellfish Research, 23(4), 951–955.
18. L. D. E. S. (2011). de Protección Especial y del Catálogo Español de Especies Amenazadas. Real Decreto, 139.
19. Le Nohaïc, M., Ross, C. L., Cornwall, C. E., Comeau, S., Lowe, R., McCulloch, M. T., & Schoepf, V. (2017). Marine heatwave causes unprecedented regional mass bleaching of thermally resistant corals in northwestern Australia. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 14999.
20. Micali, P. (1975). Rinvenimento di un esemplare vivente di Bursa scrobiculator (L.). Conchiglie, Milano, 13(11–12), 189–198.
21. Picone, F., Sottile, G., Fazio, C., & Chemello, R. (2022). The neglected status of the vermetid reefs in the Mediterranean Sea: A systematic map. Ecological Indicators, 143, 109358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109358
22. Peters, H., Ralph, G. M., & Rogers-Bennett, L. (2024). Abalones at risk: A global Red List assessment of Haliotis in a changing climate. PloS One, 19(12), e0309384. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309384
23. Rogers, C. S. (1993). Hurricanes and coral reefs—the intermediate disturbance hypothesis revisited. Coral Reefs, 12, 127–137. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00334471
24. Santin, A., Aguilar, R., Akyol, O., Begburs, C. R., Benoit, L., Chimienti, G. & Tiralongo, F. (2021). New records of rare species in the Mediterranean Sea (March 2021). https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.25295
25. Savoca, S., Grifò, G., Panarello, G., Albano, M., Giacobbe, S., Capillo, G., & Consolo, G. (2020). Modelling prey-predator interactions in Messina beachrock pools. Ecological Modelling, 434, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109206
26. Smriglio, C., Furfaro, G., Trillò, P., Appolloni, M., & Mariottini, P. (2019). A review of the Atlantic-Mediterranean Bursa scrobilator (Linnaeus, 1758) species complex. Molluscan Research, 39(4), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1080/13235818.2019.1600397
27. Somma, R., Giacobbe, S., La Monica, F. P., Molino, M. L., Morabito, M., Spoto, S. E., Zaccaro, S., & Zaffino, G. (2024). Defense and protection of the marine coastal areas and human health: A case study of asbestos cement contamination (Italy). Geosciences, 14, 98. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14040098
28. Thessalou-Legaki, M., Zenetos, A., Kambouroglou, V., Corsini-Foka, M., Kouraklis, P., Dounas, C., & Nicolaidou, A. (2006). The establishment of the invasive crab Percnon gibbesi (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Grapsidae) in Greek waters. Aquatic Invasions, 1, 133–136. https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2006.1.3.6
29. Trillò, P. (2001). Prima segnalazione di Cancellaria similis Sowerby, 1883 e Bursa scrobilator Linné, 1758 in Sicilia. La Conchiglia, 33, 57–58.
30. Trono, D. (2006). Nuovi dati sulla malacofauna del Salento (Puglia meridionale). Boll. Malacol., 42(5–8), 58–84. Verdejo Guirao, J. F. (2001). About Bursa scrobilator Linné, 1758. La Conchiglia, 298, 14–19.
31. Vousdoukas, M. I., Velegrakis, A. F., & Plomaritis, T. A. (2007). Beachrock occurrence, characteristics, formation mechanisms and impacts. Earth-Science Reviews, 85(1–2), 23–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2007.07.002
32. Yamaguchi, M. (1975). Sea level fluctuations and mass mortalities of reef animals in Guam. Mariana Islands Micronesica, 11(2), 227–243.