Effects of increased mortality on gorgonian corals (Cnidaria, Octocorallia): different demographic features may lead affected populations to unexpected recovery and new equilibrium points

• Published in: Hydrobiologia Vol. 759; no. 1; pp. 171 - 187
• Main Authors: Santangelo, G, Cupido, R, Cocito, S, Bramanti, L, Priori, C, Erra, F, Iannelli, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.10.2015; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: adults; Analysis; Animal populations; Animal reproduction; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cnidaria; Coelenterate Biology; Coral reefs; Corallium rubrum; Corals; Deep water; Density dependence; Ecology; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Gorgonacea; Health aspects; Life history; Life Sciences; Marine; Marine biology; Mortality; Octocorallia; Paramuricea clavata; population; population dynamics; population structure; reproductive performance; Zoology; Mediterranean Sea; MED; Mass mortality; Population dynamics; Demography; Mediterranean Sea; Octocorals

Over the last years, several marine populations suffered a drastic mortality increase of different origins; assessing the changes occurring in the demographic structure of such populations will allow evaluating their future trends and their ultimate fate. The aim of our research was to assess main d...