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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Sabellaria reefs as reservoirs of preferential species: the case of Eulalia ornata Saint-Joseph, 1888 (Annelida: Phyllodocidae)

Andrea Bonifazi A , Daniele Ventura B and Emanuele Mancini C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Biology, ‘Tor Vergata’ University of Rome, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, I-00133 Rome, Italy.

B Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Via le dell’Università 32, I-00185 Rome, Italy.

C Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology, University of Tuscia, Molo Vespucci, Porto Commerciale di Civitavecchia, I-00053 Civitavecchia, Italy.

Marine and Freshwater Research 69(10) 1635-1640 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF17339
Submitted: 9 November 2017  Accepted: 9 April 2018   Published: 23 July 2018

Abstract

Sabellaria alveolata is a widespread coastal engineer species that builds sandy bioconstructions in coastal marine habitats, which host a rich associated fauna. Some of these associated species are quite common on rocky or sandy substrates, but few taxa are strictly linked to Sabellaria reefs. In this study, we report, for the first time, the phyllodocid worm Eulalia ornata in the Tyrrhenian Sea and highlight its high-fidelity link with S. alveolata bioconstructions. Despite being included in the European Red List of Habitats, little is known about Sabellaria reefs, their associated fauna and their ecological role in the Mediterranean Sea. For these reasons, studies aiming at improving our knowledge of S. alveolata reefs and their associated fauna can be regarded as an important step towards more appropriate management plans for sensitive coastal habitats.

Additional keywords: associated fauna, polychaeta, Sabellaria alveolata, Tyrrhenian Sea.


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