Suchergebnisse

20 páginas, 6 tablas, 5 figuras, 1 apéndice. ; This is a qualitative comparison of the distribution of macroalgal-dominated coastal detritic communities from the Western Mediterranean and the Northeastern Atlantic, based on our own data from the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) and available data from the literature. The macroalgal-dominated coastal detritic bottoms in both regions can be distinguished by the presence of a high number of regional exclusive non-carbonated species, and the presence of a high number of maërl-forming species in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, regional differences in the distribution of some exclusive species allowed the distinction of three zones in the Northeastern Atlantic (United Kingdom, French Brittany and Galicia), while no differences were found in the Western Mediterranean. However, the algal communities considered in the selected literature could not be qualitatively distinguished, and all the samples should be considered as maërl beds. Lithothamnion corallioides and Phymatolithon calcareum were the most widespread maërl forming species in the two regions, while in the Western Mediterranean Spongites fruticulosus was also very frequent. According to the differences in the species composition of the basal and erect strata of these beds, and also in their species richness, five different morphologies of macroalgal-dominated detritic bottoms can be distinguished. Their main characteristic species and their biogeographic distribution are detailed. ; The CANAL0209 survey was financed by the MarViva Foundation, the Govern de les Illes Balears and the IEO. The MEDITS_ES05_09 survey was supported by the BADEMECO project, financed by the IEO and the European Union. ; Peer reviewed

13 páginas, 2 figuras, 2 tablas. ; We present a quantitative physiognomic characterization of major macroalgal-dominated assemblages on coastal detritic bottoms of the continental shelf off Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean). In late spring of 2007 and 2008, 29 samples were collected by bottom trawling at depths between -52 and -93 m. These samples were then sorted and identified to their lowest taxonomic level. Statistical analyses distinguished six different assemblage types: shallower water environments (-52 to -65 m in depth) were characterized by Osmundaria volubilis and Phyllophora crispa meadows and two types of Peyssonnelia beds; two assemblage types, Laminaria rodriguezii beds and ma ë rl beds, were only present in deep-water environments (-77 to -81 m); and an assemblage dominated by P. crispa and Halopteris filicina was found in both shallow and deep waters (-57 to -93 m). We assess the distribution of these six assemblage types through the studied area. ; Sampling surveys were supported by the EVADEMED and INDEMARES projects financed by the IEO and the European Union. Emma Cebrian ' s research was funded by the Juan de la Cierva program (MICINN-JDC). ; Peer reviewed