Journal Article
Distribution, population structure and life cycle of the Mediterranean endemic Laminaria rodriguezii (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae)
THIBAUT THIERRY; AURÉLIE BLANFUNÉ; BASTIEN THOUROUDE; LAURIC REYNES; LAURENT BALLESTA; FLORIAN HOLON; JULIE DETER; CHARLES-FRANÇOIS BOUDOURESQUE; KLAUS-ULRICH VALENTIN; ANDREAS WAGNER; INKA BARTSCH
Mediterranean Marine Science · Vol. 26, Issue 4 · pp. 877-890 · 2025
Abstract
Laminaria rodriguezii is a rare deep-water kelp species, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, known in only 19 locations, 5 along the Eastern Provence and 14 in Corsica (French coasts). Populations are found at depths ranging from 48 to 100 m; the oldest record dates back to 1954. This study aims to better understand its distribution, biology, and ecology by analyzing recent data from in situ observations and sampling. In July 2019, a population at Magaud Bank (France) was studied at 75 m depth. A total of 154 individuals were collected in quadrats, showing an average density of 15.7 ± 2.2 individuals per m2 (mean ± SE). The population consists mostly of small blades, with 80% measuring