(Muñoz et al. 2008; Würtz 2012; Fink et al. 2013; Rovere and Würtz 2015).
Information is still scanty and regards mostly Seco de los Olivos (Fig. 9.21), the
Cabliers and Djibouti seamounts and the edge of the Alboran platform (Hebbeln
et al. 2009; Pardo et al. 2011; Lo Iacono et al. 2012; de la Torriente et al. 2014, 2018;
Gofas et al. 2014a, b; Corbera et al. 2019; Lo Iacono et al. 2019). From the few
acquired information, it emerges that the seamounts of the Alboran Sea harbour
vulnerable marine ecosystems, including cold-water coral communities and
Fig. 9.21 Sessile organisms on deep-sea hard substrates of Seco de los Olivos. (a) Whip gorgonians Viminella flagellum, fan-like Callogorgia verticillata and sponges. Other characteristic
habitat-forming species are (b) the white coral Madrepora oculata, (c) the antipatharian Leiopathes
glaberrima, (d) the large hexactinellid sponge Asconema setubalense and (e) the giant deep-sea
oyster Neopycnodonte zibrowii on a vertical rock wall [OCEANA]
336
J. L. Rueda et al.
Information is still scanty and regards mostly Seco de los Olivos (Fig. 9.21), the
Cabliers and Djibouti seamounts and the edge of the Alboran platform (Hebbeln
et al. 2009; Pardo et al. 2011; Lo Iacono et al. 2012; de la Torriente et al. 2014, 2018;
Gofas et al. 2014a, b; Corbera et al. 2019; Lo Iacono et al. 2019). From the few
acquired information, it emerges that the seamounts of the Alboran Sea harbour
vulnerable marine ecosystems, including cold-water coral communities and
Fig. 9.21 Sessile organisms on deep-sea hard substrates of Seco de los Olivos. (a) Whip gorgonians Viminella flagellum, fan-like Callogorgia verticillata and sponges. Other characteristic
habitat-forming species are (b) the white coral Madrepora oculata, (c) the antipatharian Leiopathes
glaberrima, (d) the large hexactinellid sponge Asconema setubalense and (e) the giant deep-sea
oyster Neopycnodonte zibrowii on a vertical rock wall [OCEANA]
336
J. L. Rueda et al.