The protection of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem identified by the presence of the critically endangered bamboo coral Isidella elongata has been recognized as an urgent task. Although some research has focused on the spatial distribution of this species, there is no information available on its connectivity and genetic structure. This is the first study to examine the genetic diversity pattern and inter-population connectivit...

This study aims to investigate the ecological role of sponges as habitat formers on soft-bottom habitats of the mesophotic zone. As habitat formers, sponges significantly enhance benthic habitat complexity and establish associations with a plethora of organisms consequently augmenting local biodiversity. This role becomes particularly critical in areas subjected to intensive bottom trawling, where sponges often comprise a subs...

Sponge assemblages play a significant role in the functioning of the Mediterranean benthic ecosystem. The main goal of this study was to investigate the diversity and distribution of poorly known sponge communities in the mesophotic and deep-sea substrates of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. More than 1500 sponge specimens belonging to 87 taxa were collected from 156 stations during experimental and commercial bottom trawling in...

Fisheries have important impacts on marine biodiversity. In this work, combined information on the abundance, species richness, diversity indices, species composition, trophic level and vulnerability index were examined for the first-time to detect differences in five units related to trawl fishing: the fish assemblage entering the trawl codend, and the escaping, retained, discarded and landed fractions, derived by the gear an...

Mediterranean bottom trawling is generally characterised by a highly diversified mixed catch, composed of fish, cephalopods,crustaceans, and other megabenthic invertebrates. Although management of Mediterranean trawling requires a multispecies approach on a community basis, this does not seem to be the case in the relevant literature. Herein, we present an extensive review ofthe existing knowledge on megabenthic invertebrate c...