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Development of a new standardised method for sustainable monitoring of the vulnerable pink sea fan Eunicella verrucosa

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Abstract

The aim of this survey was to test a standardised method to follow the demographic evolution of a dense aggregative ‘forest’ population of the temperate gorgonian Eunicella verrucosa (Octocorallia, Gorgoniidae) using in situ photographic recordings. Distribution, density, growth and demographic evolution of the colonies was compared along two parallel transects. Computer treatment allowed the estimation of the total branch fan surface area, and the individual growth of tagged colonies was determined by measuring the increase in this surface area, using consecutive photographs taken at two-year intervals. To integrate the potential bias of branch overlapping, we proposed a correction factor between the in situ photographic surface area and the surface area of the gorgonian calculated from ex situ photographic surface area with all branches deployed. The surface-frequency distribution of colonies was converted to estimated-age-frequency distribution using an estimated growth curve based on the net growth rate. The technique used revealed significant differences in population structure and the dynamics of gorgonian colonies, as the two transects appeared to be influenced by different environmental conditions. The recruitment also seemed to vary according to year and transect, resulting in different densities. Our work showed clear results in characterising the variations of gorgonian demographic evolution at a small spatial scale; thus, it is assumed that this method could be a sustainable tool for coastal environmental managers.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the SIAGM (Syndicat Intercommunal d’Aménagement du Golfe du Morbihan). We thank all the members of the association OXEA (scientists and naturalist divers), especially Anthony Doré and Michel Robert for their assistance during sampling activities, and Nicolas Larché for his help in studying the colony growth. We are indebted to Boris Leroy for some constructive criticisms on the manuscript. The authors would also like to thank Amelia Curd and Aldyth Nys, two native English speakers, for post-editing the English syntax.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equipe DYnamique Fonctionnelle des Ecosystèmes côtiers Anthropisés (DYFEA), UMR 6250, Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), CNRS, Université de la Rochelle, 2 rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000, La Rochelle, France

    R. Coz

  2. UMR 7144, UPMC Université Paris VI, Station Biologique, 29680, Roscoff, France

    V. Ouisse

  3. Equipe Réseaux Trophiques et Production Benthique, CNRS UMR 7144, AD2M, Station Biologique, 29680, Roscoff, France

    V. Ouisse

  4. Equipe Biodiversité et Gestion des Territoires, UMR 7204 CNRS – SPN-MNHN, Université de Rennes 1, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France

    C. Artero, A. Carpentier & F. Ysnel

  5. Geosciences Rennes, UMR CNRS 6118, Université de Rennes 1, Campus de Beaulieu, 35042, Rennes Cedex, France

    A. Crave

  6. UMR BOREA CRESCO, MNHN, CNRS 7208, IRD 207, UPMC, 38 rue du port blanc, 35800, Dinard, France

    E. Feunteun

  7. Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Fluviaux, UMR CNRS 5023, Université Claude Bernard - LYON I, 69622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France

    J.-M. Olivier

  8. Equipe Biodiversité et Gestion des Territoires, UMR 7204 CNRS–SPN-MNHN, Université de Bretagne Sud, 56017, Vannes Cedex, France

    B. Perrin

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  1. R. Coz
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  9. F. Ysnel
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Correspondence to F. Ysnel.

Additional information

Communicated by P. Kraufvelin.

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Coz, R., Ouisse, V., Artero, C. et al. Development of a new standardised method for sustainable monitoring of the vulnerable pink sea fan Eunicella verrucosa . Mar Biol 159, 1375–1388 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1908-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-012-1908-7

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