Underwater Monitoring Protocol

Wanted species

  • Caulerpa cylindracea
  • Caulerpa taxifolia
  • Ircinia spp.
  • Axinella spp.
  • Aplysina spp.
  • Geodia cydonium
  • Tethya spp.
  • Corallium rubrum
  • Paramuricea clavata
  • Eunicella singularis
  • Eunicella cavolini
  • Eunicella verrucosa
  • Maasella edwardsi
  • Cornularia cornucopiae
  • Epizoanthus spp.
  • Parazoanthus axinellae
  • Savalia savaglia
  • Cladocora caespitosa
  • Astroides calycularis
  • Balanophyllia europaea
  • Leptopsammia pruvoti
  • Pinna nobilis
  • Arca noae
  • Chlamys spp.
  • Pecten jacobaeus
  • Patella ferruginea
  • Rapana venosa
  • Palinurus elephas
  • Homarus gammarus
  • Scyllarides latus
  • Paracentrotus lividus
  • Centrostephanus longispinus
  • Ophidiaster ophidianus
  • Microcosmus spp.
  • Aplidium conicum
  • Aplidium tabarquensis
  • Polycitor adriaticus
  • Sciaena umbra
  • Diplodus spp.
  • Conger conger
  • Chromis chromis
  • Trisopterus minutus
  • Hippocampus spp.

 

Taxa were selected by RCI scientists based on a combination of criteria including, being easily observable and identifiable underwater and one or more of the following: a Non-Indigenous Species (NIS) or a species protected under European directives or international conventions; sensitive to climate change; an ecosystem engineer; threatened by human activities or commercially exploited. Taken together, these taxa represent key aspects of Mediterranean subtidal habitats, and of the changes they may be undergoing. When it is not easy to discriminate between species, genus level was chosen, as in the case of the two protected Mediterranean seahorses.

 

Algae

Caulerpa cylindracea

Caulerpa taxifolia

 

Sponges

Ircinia spp.

Axinella spp.

Aplysina spp.

Geodia cydonium

Tethya spp.

 

Corals

Corallium rubrum (red or precious coral)

Paramuricea clavata (red gorgonian)

Eunicella singularis

Eunicella cavolini (yellow gorgonian)

Eunicella verrucosa (pink sea fan)

Maasella edwardsii

Cornularia cornucopiae

Epizoanthus spp.

Parazoanthus axinellae (yellow cluster anemone)

Savalia savaglia (gold coral)

Cladocora caespitosa (pillow coral)

Astroides calycularis

Balanophyllia europaea

Leptopsammia pruvoti

 

Molluscs

Pinna nobilis (noble pen shell)

Arca noae (Noah's arch)

Chlamys spp.

Pecten jacobaeus (pilgrim's scallop)

Patella ferruginea (ribbed Mediterranean limpet)

Rapana venosa (veined whelk)

Crostaceans

Palinurus elephas (spiny lobster)

Homarus gammarus (European lobster)

Scyllarides latus (Mediterranean slipper lobster)

 

Echinoderms

Paracentrotus lividus (stony sea urchin)

Centrostephanus longispinus

Ophidiaster ophidianus

 

Ascidians

Microcosmus spp.

Aplidium conicum

Aplidium tabarquensis

Polycitor adriaticus

 

Fishes

Sciaena umbra (brown meagre)

Diplodus spp.

Conger conger (conger eel)

Chromis chromis (damselfish)

Trisopterus minutus (poor cod)

Hippocampus spp. (sea horses)

 

... and gas bubbles!


References

Cerrano C, Milanese M, Ponti M (2017) Diving for science - science for diving: Volunteer scuba divers support science and conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. Aquat Conserv 27:303–323 https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2663

Turicchia E, Ponti M, Rossi G, Milanese M, Di Camillo CG, Cerrano C (2021) The Reef Check Mediterranean Underwater Coastal Environment Monitoring protocol. Front Mar Sci 8 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.620368