Templado 2004). Nevertheless, some recent studies have shown the presence of the
caprellids Phtisica marina, Pseudoprotella phasma and Pariambus typicus
(González et al. 2008), the irregular sea urchin Brissus unicolor (García Raso et al.
2010), the isopod Cymodoce robusta (Castelló and Carballo 2001) as well as
epiphytic brown algae of the order Ectocarpales (Acinetospora crinita and
Ectocarpus siliculosus), whose proliferations in summer can change the structure
of the mollusc and decapod assemblages (García Raso et al. 2006; Marina et al.
2012).
9.6.2.3 Caulerpa prolifera Meadows
Caulerpa prolifera meadows settle preferably on more muddy and sheltered bottoms
than Cymodocea or Zostera and sometimes form compound meadows with the
latter. The best known occurrence in the Alboran Sea is in Algeciras Bay (Sánchez
Moyano et al. 2001b, 2007; Sánchez-Moyano and García-Asencio 2009) where it
may have replaced former seagrass meadows when environmental conditions were
downgraded. There are also reports in sheltered inlets or harbours around Cabo de
Gata (Luque and Templado 2004).
In the C. prolifera beds from Algeciras Bay, Sánchez-Moyano et al. (2001b)
reported a total of 140 taxa, among which 50 molluscs, 41 polychaetes, 35 crustaceans and 5 echinoderms. The dominant molluscs on the fronds were the bivalve
Anomia ephippium and the gastropods Pusillina radiata and Jujubinus striatus,
whereas the infauna included bivalves such as Loripes orbiculatus and Abra alba.
At least three species of molluscs, the sacoglossans Oxynoe olivacea, Lobiger
serradifalci and Ascobulla fragilis, are obligate associates of C. prolifera, the former
two on the fronds and the latter on the rhizoids (Gofas et al. 2011). The crustacean
community was further analysed by Sanchez-Moyano et al. (2007), who reported
45 species (17 amphipods, 8 cumaceans, 9 decapods, 6 isopods, 4 tanaidaceans and
1 leptostracan) belonging to epifauna and infauna. Amphipods and tanaidaceans
were the most abundant groups. A total of 51 species of polychaetes and 1 oligochaete were reported by Sánchez-Moyano and García-Asencio (2009), of which a
few species (the oligochaete Aktedrilus cf. monospermathecus, the capitellids
Notomastus latericeus and Capitella capitata, the syllid Exogone verugera, the
nereid Neanthes acuminata and the cirratulid Aphelochaeta filiformis) represented
more than 80% of the total. The annelid and molluscan assemblages in C. prolifera
meadows are similar to those of smaller seagrass meadows and may have been
inherited from the latter, thanks to the morphological similarity between Caulerpa
fronds and seagrass leaves.
Seagrass meadows and C. prolifera meadows on sedimentary bottoms are comprised in the currently accepted definition of Habitat 1110 “Sandbanks permanently
covered by sea water” of the EU Habitats Directive and described as such when
included in proposals for the Natura 2000 network. All the seagrass species, including Zostera marina and Cymodocea nodosa, are listed in Annex 2 of the Barcelona
Convention and in the Spanish List of Wildlife Species in Special Protection
326
J. L. Rueda et al.
caprellids Phtisica marina, Pseudoprotella phasma and Pariambus typicus
(González et al. 2008), the irregular sea urchin Brissus unicolor (García Raso et al.
2010), the isopod Cymodoce robusta (Castelló and Carballo 2001) as well as
epiphytic brown algae of the order Ectocarpales (Acinetospora crinita and
Ectocarpus siliculosus), whose proliferations in summer can change the structure
of the mollusc and decapod assemblages (García Raso et al. 2006; Marina et al.
2012).
9.6.2.3 Caulerpa prolifera Meadows
Caulerpa prolifera meadows settle preferably on more muddy and sheltered bottoms
than Cymodocea or Zostera and sometimes form compound meadows with the
latter. The best known occurrence in the Alboran Sea is in Algeciras Bay (Sánchez
Moyano et al. 2001b, 2007; Sánchez-Moyano and García-Asencio 2009) where it
may have replaced former seagrass meadows when environmental conditions were
downgraded. There are also reports in sheltered inlets or harbours around Cabo de
Gata (Luque and Templado 2004).
In the C. prolifera beds from Algeciras Bay, Sánchez-Moyano et al. (2001b)
reported a total of 140 taxa, among which 50 molluscs, 41 polychaetes, 35 crustaceans and 5 echinoderms. The dominant molluscs on the fronds were the bivalve
Anomia ephippium and the gastropods Pusillina radiata and Jujubinus striatus,
whereas the infauna included bivalves such as Loripes orbiculatus and Abra alba.
At least three species of molluscs, the sacoglossans Oxynoe olivacea, Lobiger
serradifalci and Ascobulla fragilis, are obligate associates of C. prolifera, the former
two on the fronds and the latter on the rhizoids (Gofas et al. 2011). The crustacean
community was further analysed by Sanchez-Moyano et al. (2007), who reported
45 species (17 amphipods, 8 cumaceans, 9 decapods, 6 isopods, 4 tanaidaceans and
1 leptostracan) belonging to epifauna and infauna. Amphipods and tanaidaceans
were the most abundant groups. A total of 51 species of polychaetes and 1 oligochaete were reported by Sánchez-Moyano and García-Asencio (2009), of which a
few species (the oligochaete Aktedrilus cf. monospermathecus, the capitellids
Notomastus latericeus and Capitella capitata, the syllid Exogone verugera, the
nereid Neanthes acuminata and the cirratulid Aphelochaeta filiformis) represented
more than 80% of the total. The annelid and molluscan assemblages in C. prolifera
meadows are similar to those of smaller seagrass meadows and may have been
inherited from the latter, thanks to the morphological similarity between Caulerpa
fronds and seagrass leaves.
Seagrass meadows and C. prolifera meadows on sedimentary bottoms are comprised in the currently accepted definition of Habitat 1110 “Sandbanks permanently
covered by sea water” of the EU Habitats Directive and described as such when
included in proposals for the Natura 2000 network. All the seagrass species, including Zostera marina and Cymodocea nodosa, are listed in Annex 2 of the Barcelona
Convention and in the Spanish List of Wildlife Species in Special Protection
326
J. L. Rueda et al.