Corallium Rubrum Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

The red coral (Corallium rubrum: Cnidaria, Anthozoa) is a significant Mediterranean resource with wide historical, economic and cultural involvements. Several countries in the Mediterranean Sea have adopted different kinds of strategies for its conservation. On the other hand, the main data necessary for a rational management of a biological resource is the time necessary for the recruits to reach an exploitable size. Data about the growth rate of just settled or juvenile colonies living in shallow waters (< 50 m) are abundant and values of 1 mm year-1 for the base diameter and 1 cm year-1 for the height of the colony are generally accepted. Nevertheless it is demonstrated that 4-5 years after the settling, the growth virtually stops or becomes negligible: colonies monitored for more than 20 years along the French coast reached an height of about 4 cm and a basal diameter of 0.5 cm. Historical and recent data about the size and density of the shallow water population of Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea) are available, indicating important fluctuations of these parameters on banks not subjected to anthropogenic impact. Firstly, the colony size is inversely related to their density, suggesting an intraspecific competition linked to the space availability and trophic inputs. Moreover, it is surprising that in the last ten years the Portofino populations have shown an unusually fast growth rate, reaching the maximal colony size never recorded in the previous 43 years (15 cm in height and 20 DW g). This unusual fast growth rate was recorded after the mass mortality episodes of 1999 and 2003, involving not only red coral but also several other benthic species and provoking a significant change in the structure of the coralligenous assemblage. All these evidences suggest that the growth of the Mediterranean red coral is strongly affected by intra-and interspecific interactions linked not only to local variables by also to stochastic events.

- by and +1
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- Zoology, Ecology, Octocorals, Corallium Rubrum

During the Iron Age, red corals (Corallium rubrum) were the most frequent imported object type from the Mediterranean area into the Celtic world. The density and the distinct patterns of their distribution are perfectly suited for the study of intra-European cultural contacts and trade relations due to their long-term importation.
Despite the 130-year-old history of research on prehistoric corals, there has been hardly any extensive study. One reason for this limited interest is that corals lose their intense red colour and shiny surface structure due to poorly understood ageing processes. Hence, other light-coloured materials such as bone, ivory, chalk or shells, which were also used to decorate jewellery, are often mistaken for corals.
We propose a multi-stage approach to identify red corals and light bio-minerals with emphasis on digital microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The instruments are portable and can therefore be used directly in the museums, allowing a very efficient work flow thanks to a high identification rate while saving time.

- by Sebastian Fürst
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- Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Materials Science, Raman Spectroscopy
- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Conservation, Corals, Corallium Rubrum, Precious Corals

NUEVOS ENFOQUES PARA LA HISTORIA DE LA JOYERÍA. A PROPÓSITO DE LAS COLECCIONES DEL MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO NACIONAL (Salón de actos del MAN, 7 de abril de 2022)
Directoras: María Ángeles Granados Ortega, Conservadora Jefa del Departamento de Edad Moderna (Museo Arqueológico Nacional) y Carolina Naya Franco, Profesora del Departamento de Historia del Arte (Universidad de Zaragoza).

- by LUCIA AJELLO
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- Art History, Decorative Arts, Jewellery, Corallium Rubrum
- by Sebastian Fürst and +1
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- Archaeology, Consumer Economics, Raman Spectroscopy, Archaeometry
- by Sebastian Fürst and +1
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- Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Raman Spectroscopy, Archaeometry

During the Central European Iron Age, more specifically between 600 and 100 BC, red precious corals (Corallium rubrum) became very popular in many regions, often associated with the so-called (early) Celts. Red corals are ideally suited to investigate several key questions of Iron Age research, like trade patterns or social and economic structures. While it is fairly easy to distinguish modern C. rubrum from bone, ivory or shells, archaeologists are confronted with ancient, hence altered, artifacts. Due to ageing processes, archaeological corals lose their intensive red color and shiny surface and can easily be confused with these other light colored materials. We propose a non-destructive multi-stage approach to identify archaeological corals amongst other biominerals used as ornament during the central European Iron Age with emphasis on optical examination and mobile Raman spectroscopy. Our investigations suggest that the noticeably high amount of misidentifications or at least uncertain material declarations existing in museums or even in the literature (around 15%) could be overcome by the proposed approach. Furthermore, the range of different materials is higher than previously expected in archaeological research. This finding has implications for contemporary concepts of social structures and distribution networks during the Iron Age.

- by Sebastian Fürst
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- Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Materials Science, Biomineralisation

The red coral Corallium rubrum is a habitat-forming species with a prominent and structural role in mesophotic habitats, which sustains biodiversity hotspots. This precious coral is threatened by both over-exploitation and temperature driven mass mortality events. We report here that biocalcification, growth rates and polyps' (feeding) activity of Corallium rubrum are significantly reduced at pCO2 scenarios predicted for the end of this century (0.2 pH decrease). Since C. rubrum is a long-living species (>200 years), our results suggest that ocean acidification predicted for 2100 will significantly increases the risk of extinction of present populations. Given the functional role of these corals in the mesophotic zone, we predict that ocean acidification might have cascading effects on the functioning of these habitats worldwide.

- by Carlo Cerrano and +2
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- Climate Change, Ocean acidification, Red Coral, Corallium Rubrum

The mean predicted decrease of 0.3–0.4 pH units in the global surface ocean by the end of the century has prompted urgent research to assess the potential effects of ocean acidification on the marine environment, with strong emphasis on calcifying organisms. Among them, the Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum) is expected to be particularly susceptible to acidification effects, due to the elevated solubility of its Mg-calcite skeleton. This, together with the large overexploitation of this species, depicts a bleak future for this organism over the next decades. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low pH on the species from aquaria experiments. Several colonies of C. rubrum were long-term maintained for 314 days in aquaria at two different pH levels (8.10 and 7.81, pHT). Calcification rate, spicule morphology, major biochemical constituents (protein, carbohydrates and lipids) and fatty acids composition were measured periodically. Exposure to lower pH conditions caused a significant decrease in the skeletal growth rate in comparison with the control treatment. Similarly, the spicule morphology clearly differed between both treatments at the end of the experiment, with aberrant shapes being observed only under the acidified conditions. On the other hand, while total organic matter was significantly higher under low pH conditions, no significant differences were detected between treatments regarding total carbohydrate, lipid, protein and fatty acid composition. However, the lower variability found among samples maintained in acidified conditions relative to controls, suggests a possible effect of pH decrease on the metabolism of the colonies. Our results show, for the first time, evidence of detrimental ocean acidification effects on this valuable and endangered coral species.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti and +1
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- Ocean acidification, Ocean Acidification and Its Impact on Marine Calcifying Organisms, Corallium Rubrum

During the Central European Iron Age, and more specifically between 600 and 100 BC, red precious corals (Corallium rubrum) became very popular in many regions, often associated with the so-called (early) Celts. Red corals are ideally suited to investigate several key questions of Iron Age research like trade patterns, or social and economic structures. While it is fairly easy to distinguish modern C. rubrum from bone, ivory, or shells, archaeologists are confronted with ancient, hence altered, artifacts. Due to ageing processes, archaeological corals lose their intensive red color and shiny surface, and can easily be confused with these other light-colored materials. We propose a non-destructive multi-stage approach with emphasis on optical examination and mobile Raman spectroscopy to identify archaeological corals amongst other biominerals.

- by Sebastian Fürst and +2
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- Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Materials Science, Raman Spectroscopy

La vita è uguale a una scatola di cioccolatini: non sai mai ... 1.3 Parametri riproduttivi di una popolazione naturale. ................................................................ 13 ... 1.4.6 Storia della ricerca sul corallo rosso... more

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Corallium Rubrum, Tesi Laurea, Corallo rosso, Portofino

Declining fishing yields of the highly valuable Mediterranean red coral indicated overexploitation by the 1980s. In response, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) established management guidelines in the late 1980s, such as daily quotas, minimum size, and most importantly, the ban of dredging for coral in 1994. However, recent data led to new concerns about the sustainability of coral harvest by highlighting previous and ongoing overexploitation. The US and EU reacted in 2007 and 2009 by proposing to include the family Corallidae in CITES Appendix II to regulate trade. However, the proposals were rejected based on the hope and promise that local management would provide a less obtrusive solution. This article argues that limited resources and insufficient interdisciplinarity limit the research needed to improve management guidelines, while a lack of human and financial resources hinder local management and efficient enforcement. In particular, illegal fishing is out of control and threatens the future of the industry. Furthermore, there is no consensus on the concept of sustainability of coral fisheries. The most alarming recent development is an increasing pressure by the industry to be permitted to harvest deep populations using remote operated vehicles, which will risk depletion of the last stocks left that have not been overharvested.► Harvest of ever deeper and smaller corals resulted in stable yields that could have masked the decline of stocks. ► The proposed use of robotic harvesting tools may deplete de facto reserves of deep stocks. ► Illegal fishing by poachers and licensed fishermen is out of control. ► Management organs were unable to advance the state of the art in recent decades.

Studies on the population dynamics of the Mediterranean octocoral Corallium rubrum may prove extremely important for the conservation and management of this overexploited species. This study provides a detailed analysis of the settlement and recruitment processes in a red coral coastal population of the Eastern Ligurian Sea. Marble tiles, placed at two different depths (25 m and 35 m) were sampled photographically each month over two years, and the resulting densities of settlers were compared with those measured on the natural substrate. Red coral planulae successfully colonized tiles from August to September, showing a time-limited recruitment. Contrary to redcoral, Anomia ephippium,a bivalve that frequently colonizes tiles, exhibited a 'pulsing' recruitment throughout the year. Red coral settler density varied significantly between the different depths and times, while no statistical difference was found between artificial and natural substrates. As the tiles were permanent, they enabled us to follow the history of individuals and cohorts from settlement to their second year of life. Several mortality events affected settlers at both depths contemporaneously. In November 1999, the mass mortality that occurred in Ligurian shores also affected red coral settlers. These findings provide basic knowledge on the early phases of the red coral life cycle.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Settlement Patterns, Corals, Recruitment, Corallium Rubrum
- by Andre Freiwald and +1
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- Cold water coral research, Mediterranean Sea, Corallium Rubrum
- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Corals, Feeding Ecology, Corallium Rubrum

This research seeks to quantify recruitment, early survival and early colony growth in different populations of the precious Mediterranean red coral. Although basic to our understanding of red coral ecology and population dynamics, these early life-history descriptors are still poorly understood. To fill this lack of knowledge, marble settlement tiles were placed at 35±1 m depth within 3 populations of Corallium rubrum dwelling in the coralligenous habitat of different geographic areas of the north western Mediterranean: Calafuria and Elba Island (Italy), and Medes Islands MPA (Spain), following a multifactorial ANOVA model and sampled photographically for four years (2003–2006). Overall, 517 red coral recruits settled on the tiles during the experiment, 189 of which (126 at Calafuria and 63 at Elba) were still surviving, in 2007, when the tiles were removed. The recruitment density at Medes was only one tenth of that at Calafuria and Elba (0.56±0.21 vs. 6.06±1.75 and 4.66±1.01 recruits dm−2, mean±SE). No colony survived after four years at Medes, where the lowest recruitment rate was also found. As the age of each new settled colony was known, it was possible to measure the early growth rates of individual colonies. The growth rates thus obtained were twoto three times higher than that measured in older colonies and differed significantly between the geographic areas (the growth of colony basal diameter was 0.68±0.02 and 0.59±0.19 mm/year at Calafuria and Elba), while no significant difference was found between the actual colony growth and that previously measured in the former area. A test for secondary substrate selectivity, carried out inone area, showed that red coral preferentially settles on tubes of Serpulida than on other encrusting organisms. However, since recruitment density at Medes was lower despite the four-fold higher cover of Serpulida found there, other factors, intrinsic to the populations, such as different size–age structures or densities, leading to different larval output, may likely have determined red coral recruitment rates in the studied areas.

Recruitment, early survival and growth rates of the precious Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum (L 1758) are poorly
known. We examined these life history traits by means of artificial long-term settlement plates. Eighteen marble tiles placed off the coast of Leghorn (Tuscany, Italy) at two depths (25 and 35 m) were photographed monthly over the 4-year period from 1998 to 2002. Overall, 864 transparencies were examined to follow the individual life histories of red coral colonies belonging to four successive cohorts. Red coral planulae settled on tiles each year between July and September. Overall, 388 settlers colonized the tiles (244 at 25 m and 144 at 35 m), and their respective densities varied between 12.37F6.1 and 2.75F2.4 dm2. Heavy mortality affected these colonies (24.35F9.12 colonies % y1), but, after 4 years, the tiles still harboured a persistent population (19F4.97 and 9.75F2.87 colonies dm2, respectively, at 25 and 35 m) with positive net recruitment rates. Only in 1999 did the net recruitment rate show a negative trend, although only at the shallower depth. At the same time (late summer 1999), a thermal anomaly affected several epibenthic communities in the Ligurian Sea. After 4 years, the tiles were removed, and the colonies that settled on them were measured. The average annual growth rate of colonies was low (0.62F0.19 mm y1 in diameter), and a marked reduction in growth with age was observed. Our findings suggest that the populations of this slow growing long-lived octocoral exhibit a high capacity for colonization and seem to be quite resilient to environmental variability.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Settlement Patterns, Corals, Recruitment, Carrara Marble

Larval settlement of the high value red coral, Corallium rubrum, was studied on three different CaCO3 substrata, viz. lithogenic (marble), electro-accreted calcium carbonate in the presence and in the absence of cathodic polarisation. The last two substrata consisted of stainless steel plates galvanically coupled with Zn anodes. The electrochemical characterization of the settlement device was studied in order to investigate correlations between cathodic parameters (polarisation potential, current density, calcareous deposit composition) and larval settlement. The results obtained in the natural habitat (at 35 m depth) showed that settlement was five times lower on the electro-accreted aragonite in the presence of low cathodic current densities (i ≤ 1 μA cm−2) compared to both marble tiles and electro-accreted aragonite in the absence of polarisation. These last two substrata showed similar settlement values. The implications of these findings on restoration strategies for C. rubrum are discussed.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Corals, Citizen Science, Scuba Diving, Cathodic Protection

Recruitment, early survival and growth rates of the precious Mediterranean red coral Corallium rubrum (L 1758) are poorly
known. We examined these life history traits by means of artificial long-term settlement plates. Eighteen marble tiles placed off the coast of Leghorn (Tuscany, Italy) at two depths (25 and 35 m) were photographed monthly over the 4-year period from 1998 to 2002. Overall, 864 transparencies were examined to follow the individual life histories of red coral colonies belonging to four successive cohorts. Red coral planulae settled on tiles each year between July and September. Overall, 388 settlers colonized the tiles (244 at 25 m and 144 at 35 m), and their respective densities varied between 12.37F6.1 and 2.75F2.4 dm2. Heavy mortality affected these colonies (24.35F9.12 colonies % y1), but, after 4 years, the tiles still harboured a persistent population (19F4.97 and 9.75F2.87 colonies dm2, respectively, at 25 and 35 m) with positive net recruitment rates. Only in 1999 did the net recruitment rate show a negative trend, although only at the shallower depth. At the same time (late summer 1999), a thermal anomaly affected several epibenthic communities in the Ligurian Sea. After 4 years, the tiles were removed, and the colonies that settled on them were measured. The average annual growth rate of colonies was low (0.62F0.19 mm y1 in diameter), and a marked reduction in growth with age was observed. Our findings suggest that the populations of this slowgrowing long-lived octocoral exhibit a high capacity for colonization and seem to be quite resilient to environmental variability.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Settlement Patterns, Life history, Corals, Biological Sciences
- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Mathematical Modelling, Corals, Corallium Rubrum

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Technology, Restoration Ecology, Corals, Biological Sciences

... which affects 90–97% of larval output (eg [Grigg, 1988] , [Lasker et al., 1998] and [Santangelo et al., 2007] ), as well as post-settlement processes, which may profoundly influence recruitment rates ( [Caley et al., 1996] ,... more

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Corallium Rubrum, Precious Corals

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 demographic descriptors and related dynamics in populations of the Mediterranean gorgonians Paramuricea clavata and Corallium rubrum (the ‘‘precious red coral’’) both subject to increased mortality, by lifehistory tables and Leslie-Lewis transition matrices. Gorgonian populations have been generally been considered to have low recruitment and low dynamics. Here, we test whether these features change when mortality rises and if such populations can reach new equilibria? Our findings show large differences between the two species examined, with lower recruitment and adult colony density, shorter life-span but over-abundant reproductive output in P. clavata. Recruitment density dependence was found in crowded populations of both species, albeit with different trends. Populations of both species tend to recover even after drastic mortality increase and P. clavata reaches a new equilibrium at lower densities than at pristine values, and this in a few years time. The findings in this review could shed some light on the poorly understood dynamics occurring in deep-water dwelling, affected populations of long-lived and slow growing gorgonian corals.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti and +2
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- Demography, Corallium Rubrum, Paramuricea Clavata

Larval dispersal is the process enabling connectivity between populations of marine species with a sedentary adult stage. This transport results from the coupling between flow and larval biological traits. The present experimental study aims at quantifying these larval biological traits, namely pelagic larval duration (PLD), buoyancy, and larval vertical motility behavior of Corallium rubrum. Larval vertical motility behavior was splitted into active behaviour of swimming and passive behaviour leading to free-fall. A particle tracking routine was applied to video recording of active and passive motility behavior in order to quantify free-fall speeds, swimming activity rates and swimming speeds. The experiment was repeated under different light conditions and at different ages. C. rubrum larvae PLD ranged from 16 days (95% survival) to 42 days (5% survival). Larvae exhibited negative buoyancy with a free fall speed decreasing with age from 0.25 ± 0.02 cm s-1 (day 1) to 0.14 ± 0.02 cm s-1 (day 15). No significant difference was found neither in the activity rates nor in the mean swimming speeds during active periods among days and under different light conditions. C. rubrum larvae maintain an active swimming behavior during the 82% of the time, resulting when combined with age-varying free fall periods in a mean upward speed which increased from 0.017 cm s-1 (day 1) to 0.034 cm s-1 (day 15). Such a larval motility behaviour combined with extended PLD confer a highly dispersive potential in open waters to C. rubrum larvae.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti and +1
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- Connectivity, Corallium Rubrum, Larval Behavior

The red coral Corallium rubrum (L 1758) is a long-lived, slow-growing gorgonian, endemic to Mediterranean rocky bottoms. Because of its high economic value, red coral has long been harvested, and most populations have been depleted. In the present study, 54 marble tiles were placed in June 2003 within red coral populations over 3 different geographic areas
(Calafuria–Livorno and Elba MPA in Italy and Medes Islets MPA, in Spain), on vertical cliffs between 25 and 35 m. In each area 2 different sites were randomly selected. Tiles were subsequently sampled photographically. Between July and August 2003 red coral recruits settled on tiles in all the geographic areas and sites, exhibiting wide variability in their density. On the basis of a 2-factors nested ANOVA a significant variability between different sites at a few hundred metres distance occurred, indicating high variations in the recruitment process within the same red coral population. Mortality, measured in June 2004, widely varied between different geographic
areas.

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Settlement Patterns, Marine Conservation, Corals, Recruitment
- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Deep Ecology, Corals, Mapping of Precious Red Coral Banks, Corallium Rubrum

- by Cinzia Corinaldesi
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- Marine Biology, Climate Change, Carbon Dioxide, Kinetics
- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Demography, Climate Change, Migration, Gender

... IN DIFFERENTI AREE GEOGRAFICHE. Relatori: Candidato: Prof. Giovanni Santangelo Elisabetta Filosi Dr. Lorenzo Bramanti Anno Accademico 2006-2007 Page 2. Ai miei genitori Giammai ammainerò la bandiera, giammai cesserò di tentare. Sir... more

- by Lorenzo Bramanti
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- Corallium Rubrum, Tesi Laurea, Corallo rosso, Portofino