Benthic invertebrates associated with subfossil cold-water coral frames and hardgrounds in the Albanian deep waters (Adriatic Sea)

Authors: INA NASTO, FRINE CARDONE, FRANCESCO MASTROTOTARO, PIERO PANETTA, ANTONIETTA ROSSO, ROSANNA SANFILIPPO, MARCO TAVIANI, ANGELO TURSI

Abstract: The fauna collected associated with subfossil Lophelia pertusa and Dendrophyllia cornigera coral samples and hardgrounds from Albanian waters between 190?230 m is discussed. Eighty-three benthic species are recorded: 2 Foraminifera, 22 Porifera, 6 Cnidaria, 25 Mollusca, 14 Annelida, 1 Arthropoda, 12 Bryozoa, and 1 Echinodermata. Seventy-four species are new records for the poorly investigated Albanian deep waters.

Keywords: Cold-water corals, biodiversity, Mediterranean basin, Adriatic Sea, Albania, Lophelia pertusa, Dendrophyllia cornigera, deep-water benthos

Full Text: PDF