rocky bottoms (Habitat 1170 of the HD) surrounding the Alboran platform. A
shallower occurring one (coralligenous), between depth of 30 and 100 m, is very
heterogeneous and rich in species. In this habitat, the most conspicuous are
the gorgonians (E. verrucosa, P. clavata or L. sarmentosa). Some colonies of
the red coral (Corallium rubrum) (Annex V of the HD between other conservation
lists) (Mateo-Ramírez et al. 2021) can be present from depth of 50 to 150 m,
under overhangs of the rock. Some species of echinoderms, such as the sea
urchins Sphaerechinus granularis, Gracilechinus acutus and the hatpin
urchin (Centrostephanus longispinus) (Annex IV of HD between others) (MateoRamírez et al. 2021) as well as the ophiuroid Astrospartus mediterraneus are
frequent, the latter usually attached on the gorgonians. On deeper rocky bottoms,
from depth of 100 to 200 m, there are different species of gorgonians, such as
Viminella flagellum, Acanthogorgia hirsuta, Eunicella filiformis and Callogorgia
verticillata. The latter is characteristic of the bathyal, but it reaches the edge of the
platform in the Alboran Island. Some deep rocky bottoms harbour the so-called
sponge gardens with some interesting species, such as Phakellia robusta,
P. ventilabrum and the “lollipop” sponge Crella pyrula or the Atlantic Asconema
setubalense. One of the most extended habitats is the coarse bioclastic bottoms that
are present mostly below 100 m and at the edge of the platform (Gofas et al. 2014),
replacing the rhodolith beds. This is one of the most species-rich communities of the
Alboran platform, with 415 species of invertebrates identified during the
INDEMARES project (Gofas et al. 2014). The sea pens are particularly conspicuous
and include the species Veretillum cynomorium, Pennatula rubra and Virgularia
mirabilis. Other species present in this habitat are the sea cucumber Parastichopus
regalis; the sea stars Anseropoda placenta, Chaetaster longipes and Marginaster
capreensis; and the small sea urchin Genocidaris maculata. The bioclastic bottoms
are rich in crustaceans, with Galathea intermedia, Inachus dorsettensis and Munida
speciosa as dominant species.
Among the studied marine fauna (Templado et al. 1986, 1993, 2006; Templado
and Luque 1986; García Raso 1989), one of the best known groups is the molluscs
(Salas and Luque 1986; Peñas et al. 2006) with more than 650 species listed for the
Alboran Island, including some endemic species. The ribbed Mediterranean limpet (Patella ferruginea), catalogued as “In Extinction Risk” in the CEEA, has in this
MPA one of its best populations, with ca. 950 individuals (Paracuellos et al. 2003;
Moreno and Arroyo 2008; Arroyo et al. 2011; Junta de Andalucía 2008–2019)
(Fig. 25.4). The sponges and cnidarians are also noteworthy, with more than
198 (Gofas et al. 2014; Sitjà and Maldonado 2014) and 76 species (of which
36 are anthozoans), respectively (César Megina and Pablo López, pers. com.).
Among the cnidarians, in addition to the great diversity of gorgonians, important
elements are the chalice coral (Vulnerable in CEEA) (Fig. 25.4); the red coral, which
was exploited for many years (Templado et al. 2006; Moreno 2008); or the rare and
giant whip gorgonian (Ellisella paraplexauroides) (LESRPE) (Mateo-Ramírez et al.
2021), a unique Mediterranean relic from the Mauritanian-Senegalese Pleistocene
interglacial expansion (Maldonado et al. 2013). Altogether, about 1500 species have
been reported around the Alboran Island (an exhaustive catalogue can be found in
838
Á. Mateo-Ramírez et al.
shallower occurring one (coralligenous), between depth of 30 and 100 m, is very
heterogeneous and rich in species. In this habitat, the most conspicuous are
the gorgonians (E. verrucosa, P. clavata or L. sarmentosa). Some colonies of
the red coral (Corallium rubrum) (Annex V of the HD between other conservation
lists) (Mateo-Ramírez et al. 2021) can be present from depth of 50 to 150 m,
under overhangs of the rock. Some species of echinoderms, such as the sea
urchins Sphaerechinus granularis, Gracilechinus acutus and the hatpin
urchin (Centrostephanus longispinus) (Annex IV of HD between others) (MateoRamírez et al. 2021) as well as the ophiuroid Astrospartus mediterraneus are
frequent, the latter usually attached on the gorgonians. On deeper rocky bottoms,
from depth of 100 to 200 m, there are different species of gorgonians, such as
Viminella flagellum, Acanthogorgia hirsuta, Eunicella filiformis and Callogorgia
verticillata. The latter is characteristic of the bathyal, but it reaches the edge of the
platform in the Alboran Island. Some deep rocky bottoms harbour the so-called
sponge gardens with some interesting species, such as Phakellia robusta,
P. ventilabrum and the “lollipop” sponge Crella pyrula or the Atlantic Asconema
setubalense. One of the most extended habitats is the coarse bioclastic bottoms that
are present mostly below 100 m and at the edge of the platform (Gofas et al. 2014),
replacing the rhodolith beds. This is one of the most species-rich communities of the
Alboran platform, with 415 species of invertebrates identified during the
INDEMARES project (Gofas et al. 2014). The sea pens are particularly conspicuous
and include the species Veretillum cynomorium, Pennatula rubra and Virgularia
mirabilis. Other species present in this habitat are the sea cucumber Parastichopus
regalis; the sea stars Anseropoda placenta, Chaetaster longipes and Marginaster
capreensis; and the small sea urchin Genocidaris maculata. The bioclastic bottoms
are rich in crustaceans, with Galathea intermedia, Inachus dorsettensis and Munida
speciosa as dominant species.
Among the studied marine fauna (Templado et al. 1986, 1993, 2006; Templado
and Luque 1986; García Raso 1989), one of the best known groups is the molluscs
(Salas and Luque 1986; Peñas et al. 2006) with more than 650 species listed for the
Alboran Island, including some endemic species. The ribbed Mediterranean limpet (Patella ferruginea), catalogued as “In Extinction Risk” in the CEEA, has in this
MPA one of its best populations, with ca. 950 individuals (Paracuellos et al. 2003;
Moreno and Arroyo 2008; Arroyo et al. 2011; Junta de Andalucía 2008–2019)
(Fig. 25.4). The sponges and cnidarians are also noteworthy, with more than
198 (Gofas et al. 2014; Sitjà and Maldonado 2014) and 76 species (of which
36 are anthozoans), respectively (César Megina and Pablo López, pers. com.).
Among the cnidarians, in addition to the great diversity of gorgonians, important
elements are the chalice coral (Vulnerable in CEEA) (Fig. 25.4); the red coral, which
was exploited for many years (Templado et al. 2006; Moreno 2008); or the rare and
giant whip gorgonian (Ellisella paraplexauroides) (LESRPE) (Mateo-Ramírez et al.
2021), a unique Mediterranean relic from the Mauritanian-Senegalese Pleistocene
interglacial expansion (Maldonado et al. 2013). Altogether, about 1500 species have
been reported around the Alboran Island (an exhaustive catalogue can be found in
838
Á. Mateo-Ramírez et al.