Megabenthic communities of the Ligurian deep continental shelf and shelf break (NW Mediterranean Sea).

ABSTRACT: The Ligurian Sea is one of the most studied Mediterranean basins. Since the beginning of the last century, many research expeditions have characterized its benthic and pelagic fauna through scuba diving and trawl surveys. However, a large knowledge gap exists about the composition of benthic communities extending into the so-called mesophotic or twilight depth range, currently under intense pressure from commercial and recreational fishing. A series of visual surveys, carried out by means of remotely operated vehicles between 2012 and 2018, were conducted along the Ligurian deep continental shelf and shelf break, between 30 and 210 m depth, in order to characterize the main benthic biocoenoses dwelling at this depth range and to determine the most relevant environmental factors that explai

SUBMITTER: Enrichetti F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6797210 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature