PENNATULIDAE (CNIDARIA, ANTHOZOA) FROM SOUTHERN ADRIATIC SEA (GSA 18): DISTRIBUTION AND ASSOCIATED BIODIVERSITY

PENNATULIDAE (CNIDARIA, ANTHOZOA) DEL MAR ADRIATICO MERIDIONALE (GSA 18): DISTRIBUZIONE E BIODIVERSITÀ ASSOCIATA

Authors

  • Gaetano Costantino COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Bari
  • Loredana Casciaro COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Bari
  • Antonella Consiglio COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Bari
  • Cosmidano Neglia COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Bari
  • Walter Zupa COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Bari
  • Pierluigi Carbonara COISPA Tecnologia e Ricerca s.c.r.l., Bari

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.82008/bmm.v30i1.365

Abstract

A total of 219 specimens of three pennatulacean species from the Southern Adriatic Sea (Geographic Sub-Area, GSA 18), namely Pennatula rubra (120), P. phosphorea (49), and Pteroeides griseum (50), were collected during the Mediterranean International Bottom Trawl Survey (MEDITS) over the 2011–2023 period. The three species were predominantly distributed on the eastern side of the study area (Albania, Montenegro), particularly on the continental shelf at depths of 62-112 m. Biodiversity analysis showed higher values for faunal communities associated with pennatulaceans than for those not associated. This study contributes to a better understanding of the distribution of pennatulaceans species in the Southern Adriatic Sea and supports strategies aimed at preserving VME habitats.

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Published

2026-05-20

How to Cite

Costantino, G., Casciaro, L., Consiglio , A., Neglia , C., Zupa , W., & Carbonara , P. (2026). PENNATULIDAE (CNIDARIA, ANTHOZOA) FROM SOUTHERN ADRIATIC SEA (GSA 18): DISTRIBUTION AND ASSOCIATED BIODIVERSITY: PENNATULIDAE (CNIDARIA, ANTHOZOA) DEL MAR ADRIATICO MERIDIONALE (GSA 18): DISTRIBUZIONE E BIODIVERSITÀ ASSOCIATA. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 30(1), 35–38. https://doi.org/10.82008/bmm.v30i1.365

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 1 (2026): Biologia Marina Mediterranea

Section

Articles