is being lost and needs to be urgently reinforced. Moreover, the available information is unbalanced between the north and south shores of the Alboran Sea, with the
latter much less known. Thus, it would be necessary to increase research efforts in
Moroccan and Algerian waters to have a more complete and updated overview of the
biodiversity of this Mediterranean basin.
On the other hand, the biological traits and the role of the species in the
maintenance of biodiversity, functionality and resilience of ecosystems remain
poorly understood, particularly for the vast majority of rare species. Thus, besides
the necessary basic research on taxonomy, investigations must be also focused on
the species ecological features (mainly on trophic interactions) and on its reproductive biology, larval development, settlement and recruitment. Moreover, and especially for the threatened species, it is also essential to understand the environmental
factors that modulate their distribution and, in the current context of global change,
their thermal tolerance limits, acclimatization capacities and resilience under other
human impacts and diseases. Finally, genetic data (such as population genetic
variability and the extent of connectivity), associated with ecological studies, are
of primary importance to detect when a population is threatened and to predict the
influence of environmental changes on individual species. All these issues will
determine “winners” and “losers”, and such knowledge is necessary for successful
management and effective protection.
Acknowledgements Authors thank Carmen Salas, Serge Gofas and José Luis Rueda for their
useful comments on the manuscript and Antonio Rodríguez-Medel Nieto, Agustín Barrajón
Domenech and Jesús Osorio for their photographic contribution.
References
Abou Oualid J, López-González PJ, Ait Alla A et al (2016) Geographical distribution of Eunicella
gazella (Studer, 1878) (Alcyonacea: Octocrallia: Anthozoa: Cnidaria) in Atlantic West Africa:
first record in Moroccan Atlantic coasts. J Mater Environ Sci 7(11):4262–4268
Adamo AM, Vertino A, Stolarski J et al (2016) Merging scleractinian genera: the overwhelming
genetic similarity between solitary Desmophyllum and colonial Lophelia. BMC Evol Biol
16:108
Aguilar R, Marín P (2013) Mediterranean deep-sea corals: reason for protection under the Barcelona convention. OCEANA, Madrid
Aguilar R, Pastor X, de Pablo M (2006) Habitats in danger. Oceana/Fundación Biodiversidad,
Madrid
Aguilar R, de la Torriente A, García S (2008) Propuesta de áreas marinas de importancia ecológica:
Atlántico sur y Mediterráneo español. Oceana, Fundación Biodiversidad, Madrid
Aguilar R, Akissou M, Templado J et al (2011a) Scientific rationale for the proposed CIESM near
Atlantic marine Peace Park (zone 1). In: Briand F (ed) Marine peace parks in the Mediterranean –
a CIESM proposal. CIESM Workshop 41, Monaco, pp 43–49
Aguilar R, López Correa M, Calcinai B et al (2011b) First records of Asbestopluma hypogea
Vacelet and Boury-Esnault, 1996 (Porifera, Demospongiae Cladorhizidae) on seamounts and in
bathyal settings of the Mediterranean Sea. Zootaxa 2925:33–40
10 Invertebrates: The Realm of Diversity
417
latter much less known. Thus, it would be necessary to increase research efforts in
Moroccan and Algerian waters to have a more complete and updated overview of the
biodiversity of this Mediterranean basin.
On the other hand, the biological traits and the role of the species in the
maintenance of biodiversity, functionality and resilience of ecosystems remain
poorly understood, particularly for the vast majority of rare species. Thus, besides
the necessary basic research on taxonomy, investigations must be also focused on
the species ecological features (mainly on trophic interactions) and on its reproductive biology, larval development, settlement and recruitment. Moreover, and especially for the threatened species, it is also essential to understand the environmental
factors that modulate their distribution and, in the current context of global change,
their thermal tolerance limits, acclimatization capacities and resilience under other
human impacts and diseases. Finally, genetic data (such as population genetic
variability and the extent of connectivity), associated with ecological studies, are
of primary importance to detect when a population is threatened and to predict the
influence of environmental changes on individual species. All these issues will
determine “winners” and “losers”, and such knowledge is necessary for successful
management and effective protection.
Acknowledgements Authors thank Carmen Salas, Serge Gofas and José Luis Rueda for their
useful comments on the manuscript and Antonio Rodríguez-Medel Nieto, Agustín Barrajón
Domenech and Jesús Osorio for their photographic contribution.
References
Abou Oualid J, López-González PJ, Ait Alla A et al (2016) Geographical distribution of Eunicella
gazella (Studer, 1878) (Alcyonacea: Octocrallia: Anthozoa: Cnidaria) in Atlantic West Africa:
first record in Moroccan Atlantic coasts. J Mater Environ Sci 7(11):4262–4268
Adamo AM, Vertino A, Stolarski J et al (2016) Merging scleractinian genera: the overwhelming
genetic similarity between solitary Desmophyllum and colonial Lophelia. BMC Evol Biol
16:108
Aguilar R, Marín P (2013) Mediterranean deep-sea corals: reason for protection under the Barcelona convention. OCEANA, Madrid
Aguilar R, Pastor X, de Pablo M (2006) Habitats in danger. Oceana/Fundación Biodiversidad,
Madrid
Aguilar R, de la Torriente A, García S (2008) Propuesta de áreas marinas de importancia ecológica:
Atlántico sur y Mediterráneo español. Oceana, Fundación Biodiversidad, Madrid
Aguilar R, Akissou M, Templado J et al (2011a) Scientific rationale for the proposed CIESM near
Atlantic marine Peace Park (zone 1). In: Briand F (ed) Marine peace parks in the Mediterranean –
a CIESM proposal. CIESM Workshop 41, Monaco, pp 43–49
Aguilar R, López Correa M, Calcinai B et al (2011b) First records of Asbestopluma hypogea
Vacelet and Boury-Esnault, 1996 (Porifera, Demospongiae Cladorhizidae) on seamounts and in
bathyal settings of the Mediterranean Sea. Zootaxa 2925:33–40
10 Invertebrates: The Realm of Diversity
417