Marine bioconstructions are biodiversity-rich, three-dimensional biogenic structures,
regulating key ecological functions of benthic ecosystems worldwide. Tropical coral reefs …

Deep-sea ecosystems represent the largest biome of the global biosphere, but knowledge of
their biodiversity is still scant. The Mediterranean basin has been proposed as a hot spot of …

Fine-scale structural complexity created by reef-building coral in shallow-water
environments is influential on biodiversity, species assemblage and functional trait …

Background In recent years, several types of molecular markers and new microscale
skeletal characters have shown potential as powerful tools for phylogenetic reconstructions …

The term cold-water coral sensu lato groups taxa with a more or less pronounced frame-
building ability (eg Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata) with forest-forming organisms …

The biodiversity of the Santa Maria di Leuca (SML) coral bank is summarized and its
description is updated using data collected by means of underwater video systems, benthic …

Vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) are ecosystems at risk from the effects of fishing or
other kinds of disturbance, as determined by the vulnerability of their components (eg …

Leiopathes glaberrima is a tall arborescent black coral species structuring important facies
of the deep-sea rocky bottoms of the Mediterranean Sea that are severely stifled by fishing …

A new cold-water coral (CWC) province has been identified in the Mediterranean Sea in the
Capo Spartivento canyon system offshore the southern coast of Sardinia. The 'Sardinia cold …

The use of underwater video techniques has expanded rapidly in ecological studies and is
particularly desirable in protected areas since the method does not impact the habitat or …