Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis

Mediterranean gorgonians are being threatened by the impact of recurrent extreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves (MHWs). The white gorgonian Eunicella singularis was suggested to be the most resistant gorgonian species in the NW Mediterranean, mainly due to the presence of symbiotic algae....

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Autores: Sarda, Julia, Gori, Andrea, Doñate-Ordóñez, Ruth, Viladrich Canudas, Núria, Costantini, Federica, Garrabou, Joaquim, Linares Prats, Cristina
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:ubarcelona__::b396b08d5c999d53c89eec8566d6c2ac
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228971
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Mediterrània (Mar)
Població
Onades
Mediterranean Sea
Population
Ocean waves
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spelling Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis Sarda, Julia Gori, Andrea Doñate-Ordóñez, Ruth Viladrich Canudas, Núria Costantini, Federica Garrabou, Joaquim Linares Prats, Cristina Mediterrània (Mar) Població Onades Mediterranean Sea Population Ocean waves Mediterranean gorgonians are being threatened by the impact of recurrent extreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves (MHWs). The white gorgonian Eunicella singularis was suggested to be the most resistant gorgonian species in the NW Mediterranean, mainly due to the presence of symbiotic algae. However, a substantial shift in the conservation condition of the species has been observed in the recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the lethal and sublethal effects of recent MHWs on the populations of E. singularis. Our results show that recurrent MHWs have impacted both the demography and reproduction of the species between 2002 and 2020, driving mortalities up to 36%, an increase in the percentages of non-reproducing adult colonies (11–58%), and a significant decrease in the recruitment rates. Although E. singularis is a highly dynamic species in comparison with other temperate gorgonians, the present study suggests that the persistence of this species may be severely compromised under recurrent MHWs, at least at shallowest depths. Elsevier B.V. https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228971
title Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis
spellingShingle Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis
Sarda, Julia
Mediterrània (Mar)
Població
Onades
Mediterranean Sea
Population
Ocean waves
title_short Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis
title_full Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis
title_fullStr Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis
title_full_unstemmed Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis
title_sort Recurrent marine heatwaves compromise the reproduction success and long-term viability of shallow populations of the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis
author Sarda, Julia
author_facet Sarda, Julia
Gori, Andrea
Doñate-Ordóñez, Ruth
Viladrich Canudas, Núria
Costantini, Federica
Garrabou, Joaquim
Linares Prats, Cristina
author_role author
author2 Gori, Andrea
Doñate-Ordóñez, Ruth
Viladrich Canudas, Núria
Costantini, Federica
Garrabou, Joaquim
Linares Prats, Cristina
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
topic Mediterrània (Mar)
Població
Onades
Mediterranean Sea
Population
Ocean waves
topic_facet Mediterrània (Mar)
Població
Onades
Mediterranean Sea
Population
Ocean waves
description Mediterranean gorgonians are being threatened by the impact of recurrent extreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves (MHWs). The white gorgonian Eunicella singularis was suggested to be the most resistant gorgonian species in the NW Mediterranean, mainly due to the presence of symbiotic algae. However, a substantial shift in the conservation condition of the species has been observed in the recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the lethal and sublethal effects of recent MHWs on the populations of E. singularis. Our results show that recurrent MHWs have impacted both the demography and reproduction of the species between 2002 and 2020, driving mortalities up to 36%, an increase in the percentages of non-reproducing adult colonies (11–58%), and a significant decrease in the recruitment rates. Although E. singularis is a highly dynamic species in comparison with other temperate gorgonians, the present study suggests that the persistence of this species may be severely compromised under recurrent MHWs, at least at shallowest depths.
publishDate 2025
format article
status_str publishedVersion
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228971
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
publisher Elsevier B.V.
institution Universidad de Barcelona
collection Dipòsit Digital de la UB
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de la UB
instname_str Universidad de Barcelona
_version_ 1878435054650130432
publishDateSort 2025
author_browse Costantini, Federica
Doñate-Ordóñez, Ruth
Garrabou, Joaquim
Gori, Andrea
Linares Prats, Cristina
Sarda, Julia
Viladrich Canudas, Núria
publisherStr Elsevier B.V.
score 6,9303427