Healthy assemblages of Isidella elongata unintentionally protected from trawling offshore of Asinara Island (northwestern Sardinia, NW Mediterranean Sea).

Deep-sea coral assemblages are marine biodiversity hot spots. Because of their life history traits, deep-sea corals are highly vulnerable to the impacts of human activities such as fishing. The critically endangered "bamboo coral" Isidella elongata is a key structuring species of deep muddy bottoms that is susceptible to habitat destruction, particularly from trawling. A shallow population of this species was recently discovered by a multibeam and ROV survey offshore of the Asinara Island marine protected area (MPA) (northwestern Sardinia, NW Mediterranean Sea). This vulnerable marine assemblage has been found under healthy conditions at depths ranging from 110 to 298 m. Isidella elongata occurs on a muddy seafloor locally characterised by boulders associated with black coral species (Parantipathes larix and Antipathes dichotoma). The lush colonies of I. elongata seem to be related to natural protection from bottom trawling activity; nevertheless, the presence of lost fishing artisanal nets has been observed in the study area. These structuring species are indicators of vulnerable marine ecosystems, and their conservation is essential for preserving marine biodiversity. Therefore, enlarging the perimeter of the Asinara Island MPA into its deeper western waters is suggested to ensure the protection of these valuable and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Beach nourishment using sediments from relict sand deposit: Effects on subtidal macrobenthic communities in the Central Adriatic Sea (Eastern Mediterranean Sea-Italy).

Nowadays nourishment is the most popular shore reconstruction strategy to counteract erosion of coastal areas. Sediments used for nourishment can have terrestrial or marine origin. This study analysed the effects of nourishment with relict sand on the subtidal macrobenthic communities and on the surface sediment at 7 sites of the Marche Region (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy). Samples for biological and physical analyses were collected in each site before and after nourishment. One year after nourishment the presence of the relict sands used for the replenishment is still visible in the sediment of each site. In the same period macrobenthic communities are characterised by the dominance of a few species able to avoid burial and suffocation phenomena, showing a low variability respect to the communities present before.