Scholarlink

<p>Marine animal forests, composed of sessile suspension feeders such as gorgonians are known to host rich communities that support important ecosystem functions and services. These habitats are undergoing severe loss due to multiple pressures, with potential cascading effects on associated communities and their functions that remain poorly understood. To address this critical knowledge gap, we used fine-scale data to assess the role of <i>Paramuricea clavata</i> forests in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at multiple locations, in the Gulf of Naples (Italy, Western Mediterranean Sea). Through functional trait analysis, we compared taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic assemblages inside and outside <i>P. clavata</i> forests and investigated the loss of traits as a consequence of forest loss. Analyses revealed significant enhancements in both taxonomic and functional diversity within <i>P. clavata</i> forests, with observed increased species and functional richness. Trait-based investigations revealed a higher abundance of colonial heterotrophic species within forests, while outside, assemblages were dominated by low-longevity autotrophs, suggesting that <i>P. clavata</i> modifies environmental variables creating unique ecological conditions that favor specific traits. β-diversity measurements demonstrated increased compositional and functional turnover inside forests, indicating that <i>P. clavata</i> provides more available niches, supporting the replacement of species and functions.&#xa0;Our findings offer insights into how marine animal forests can structure marine communities, with broader implications for understanding biodiversity loss in changing marine ecosystems.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Beyond biodiversity: the role of Paramuricea clavata forests in shaping taxonomic and functional diversity

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月28日

查看全文
  • Alberto Colletti,
  • Luca Licciardi,
  • Erika Fabbrizzi,
  • Antonia Chiarore,
  • Sara De Benedictis,
  • Marco Munari,
  • Simone Maria Santo Musumeci,
  • Chiara Silvestrini,
  • Patrizia Stipcich,
  • Simonetta Fraschetti

摘要

Marine animal forests, composed of sessile suspension feeders such as gorgonians are known to host rich communities that support important ecosystem functions and services. These habitats are undergoing severe loss due to multiple pressures, with potential cascading effects on associated communities and their functions that remain poorly understood. To address this critical knowledge gap, we used fine-scale data to assess the role of Paramuricea clavata forests in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at multiple locations, in the Gulf of Naples (Italy, Western Mediterranean Sea). Through functional trait analysis, we compared taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic assemblages inside and outside P. clavata forests and investigated the loss of traits as a consequence of forest loss. Analyses revealed significant enhancements in both taxonomic and functional diversity within P. clavata forests, with observed increased species and functional richness. Trait-based investigations revealed a higher abundance of colonial heterotrophic species within forests, while outside, assemblages were dominated by low-longevity autotrophs, suggesting that P. clavata modifies environmental variables creating unique ecological conditions that favor specific traits. β-diversity measurements demonstrated increased compositional and functional turnover inside forests, indicating that P. clavata provides more available niches, supporting the replacement of species and functions. Our findings offer insights into how marine animal forests can structure marine communities, with broader implications for understanding biodiversity loss in changing marine ecosystems.