spp.). This could indicate that differences in size may reduce interspecific competition for space and food (Grinyó et al. 2016).
Eunicella verrucosa (Fig. 10.2) has been described as an Atlantic species with a
wide bathymetric range and seems to replace the Mediterranean E. cavolinii in the
Alboran Sea. In the Strait of Gibraltar and Atlantic locations, this species may be
found from shallow waters (6–8 m) down to about 80 m, but in the Alboran Sea, it is
mainly found at deeper waters (35–200 m). Around the Alborán Island, it is quite
abundant in the undergrowth of the Laminaria and Saccorhiza forests between
25 and 60 m (small colonies), but it can extend to deeper waters (down to about
200 m), where colonies are larger (Templado et al. 2006; Gofas et al. 2014). In the
Seco de los Olivos, de la Torriente et al. (2018) found this gorgonian in the depth
range of 75–450 m (more frequently in the range of 75–150 m).
The whip-like gorgonian Viminella flagellum is mainly an Atlantic species living
in temperate and subtropical waters. Its occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea seems
to be limited to its westernmost part (Alboran and Balearic Seas), with the exception
of a record on the western coast of Corsica (Giusti et al. 2012, 2017). This gorgonian
is characterized by monopodial colonies up to 3 m high with only one or few side
branches. It may form dense meadows, especially over seamount summit plateaux,
and may reach great depths (down to about 1000 m). In Alboran and Balearic Seas,
the species has been recorded at a depth range of 90–400 m, generally on rocky
substrata arising from detritic bottoms, where it achieves high densities over large
areas (Aguilar et al. 2006; Grinyó et al. 2016). Nevertheless, V. flagellum is
considered a near threatened species by IUCN Red List (García et al. 2015). Another
whip-like gorgonian is the West African species Eunicella filiformis, only recorded
in the Mediterranean from the Strait of Gibraltar (Carpine and Grasshoff 1975) and
some areas of the Alboran Sea, such as Xauen Bank and Alboran Ridge (Templado
et al. 2006; Gofas et al. 2014), and off the coast of Malaga and Granada (Templado
et al. 1993; Ocaña et al. 2000), in the depth range of 60–300 m.
Small aggregations of the alcyonacean Chironephthya mediterranea (Fig. 10.10),
recently described by López-González et al. (2015) in the Balearic Islands at a depth
range of 115–200 m, have been recorded in some places accompanying V. flagellum.
This alcyonacean was later found along the south Sardinian continental margin (Cau
et al. 2017), in the Seco de los Olivos between 90 and 180 m (de la Torriente et al.
2018) and in the Cabliers Coral Mound between 300 and 400 m (Corbera et al.
2019).
The large Atlanto-Mediterranean gorgonian Callogorgia verticillata forms dense
forests that can begin in the deep shelf and extend to a depth of more than 1000 m.
This species generally dominates on gently sloping silted rocky bottoms in areas
characterized by high sedimentation rates, often forming mixed gardens with other
gorgonians and sponges. In the Alboran Sea, C. verticillata is very common in
bottoms between 70 and 400 m (Templado et al. 2006; Gofas et al. 2014; de la
Torriente et al. 2018).
Acanthogorgia hirsuta has been recorded in some areas of the northeast Atlantic
and in some scattered western Mediterranean locations. This species is frequent in
some areas of the Alboran Sea, such as the Alboran Ridge (Templado et al. 2006), El
380
J. Templado et al.
Eunicella verrucosa (Fig. 10.2) has been described as an Atlantic species with a
wide bathymetric range and seems to replace the Mediterranean E. cavolinii in the
Alboran Sea. In the Strait of Gibraltar and Atlantic locations, this species may be
found from shallow waters (6–8 m) down to about 80 m, but in the Alboran Sea, it is
mainly found at deeper waters (35–200 m). Around the Alborán Island, it is quite
abundant in the undergrowth of the Laminaria and Saccorhiza forests between
25 and 60 m (small colonies), but it can extend to deeper waters (down to about
200 m), where colonies are larger (Templado et al. 2006; Gofas et al. 2014). In the
Seco de los Olivos, de la Torriente et al. (2018) found this gorgonian in the depth
range of 75–450 m (more frequently in the range of 75–150 m).
The whip-like gorgonian Viminella flagellum is mainly an Atlantic species living
in temperate and subtropical waters. Its occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea seems
to be limited to its westernmost part (Alboran and Balearic Seas), with the exception
of a record on the western coast of Corsica (Giusti et al. 2012, 2017). This gorgonian
is characterized by monopodial colonies up to 3 m high with only one or few side
branches. It may form dense meadows, especially over seamount summit plateaux,
and may reach great depths (down to about 1000 m). In Alboran and Balearic Seas,
the species has been recorded at a depth range of 90–400 m, generally on rocky
substrata arising from detritic bottoms, where it achieves high densities over large
areas (Aguilar et al. 2006; Grinyó et al. 2016). Nevertheless, V. flagellum is
considered a near threatened species by IUCN Red List (García et al. 2015). Another
whip-like gorgonian is the West African species Eunicella filiformis, only recorded
in the Mediterranean from the Strait of Gibraltar (Carpine and Grasshoff 1975) and
some areas of the Alboran Sea, such as Xauen Bank and Alboran Ridge (Templado
et al. 2006; Gofas et al. 2014), and off the coast of Malaga and Granada (Templado
et al. 1993; Ocaña et al. 2000), in the depth range of 60–300 m.
Small aggregations of the alcyonacean Chironephthya mediterranea (Fig. 10.10),
recently described by López-González et al. (2015) in the Balearic Islands at a depth
range of 115–200 m, have been recorded in some places accompanying V. flagellum.
This alcyonacean was later found along the south Sardinian continental margin (Cau
et al. 2017), in the Seco de los Olivos between 90 and 180 m (de la Torriente et al.
2018) and in the Cabliers Coral Mound between 300 and 400 m (Corbera et al.
2019).
The large Atlanto-Mediterranean gorgonian Callogorgia verticillata forms dense
forests that can begin in the deep shelf and extend to a depth of more than 1000 m.
This species generally dominates on gently sloping silted rocky bottoms in areas
characterized by high sedimentation rates, often forming mixed gardens with other
gorgonians and sponges. In the Alboran Sea, C. verticillata is very common in
bottoms between 70 and 400 m (Templado et al. 2006; Gofas et al. 2014; de la
Torriente et al. 2018).
Acanthogorgia hirsuta has been recorded in some areas of the northeast Atlantic
and in some scattered western Mediterranean locations. This species is frequent in
some areas of the Alboran Sea, such as the Alboran Ridge (Templado et al. 2006), El
380
J. Templado et al.