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Eunicella filiformis Studer, 1878 Eunicea filiformis Studer, 1878: 138 (West Africa). Eunicella filiformis Studer, 1878a: 655, pl. 4, figs. 23 a–c. Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region. Justification: Literature analysis: This species was erected by Studer for material collected of the west coast of Africa and originally named Eunicea filiformis, but, shortly after, Studer (1878a) reassigned the species to Eunicella. The only Indian reference is in a presented by Kumar et al. (2017: PY-B) where the species is presented with the authorship as “Studer, 1879”, and “1879 Scirpearia filiformis Studer ” is cited as a synonym. But Studer did not publish in that year, and Scirpearia filiformis is a species erected by Toeplitz and is a synonym of Ellisella filiformis. Kumar et al. (2017: PY-B) cited Scirpearia filiformis in Thomas & George (1986: 111) and Mary & Lazarus (2004: 42) as being synonymous, but the sclerite drawings in those papers are very rudimentary and do not look like they are from an ellisellid and are certainly not from a Eunicella colony., Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on page 74, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327, {"references":["Studer, T. (1878) Uber die mit dem Schleppnetz angestellten Untersuchungen an der Westkuste von Afrika wahrend der Reise S. M. S. Gazelle. Sitzungs-Berichte Gesellsch. naturf. Freunde Berlin, 1878, 135 - 139.","Studer, T. (1878 a) Ubersicht der Anthozoa Alcyonaria, welche wahrend der Reise S. M. S. Gazelle um die Erde gesammelt wurden. Monatsbericht der K ˆ niglich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1878, 632 - 688.","Thomas, P. A. & George, R. M. (1986) A systematic appraisal of the commercially important gorgonids of the Indian seas. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 28 (1 & 2), 96 - 112.","Mary, A. G. & Lazarus, S. (2004) Gorgonids off the southwest Coast of India. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India, 46, 32 - 43."]}

Eunicella verrucosa (Pallas, 1766) Gorgonia verrucosa Pallas, 1766: 196–198 (Mediterranean). Opinion: There is no evidence that this species occurs in the region. Justification: Literature analysis: Originally named Gorgonia verrucosa, this species is a very well-known and common taxon found in the Mediterranean and in the East Atlantic in regions like Portugal and England. The Indian reference is a listing by Kumar et al. (2017: PY-B) where “1766 Scripearia veruucosa Pallas” is cited as a synonym. But the latter species was erected by Simpson (1910) and is a synonym of Viminella verrucosa. Kumar et al. cites Rao & Devi (2003) as their reference where Scripearia veruucosa is listed as occurring in the Andamans with no evidence presented., Published as part of Ramvilas, Ghosh, Alderslade, Philip & Ranjeet, Kutty, 2023, The taxonomy of Indian gorgonians: an assessment of the descriptive records of gorgonians (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) recorded as occurring in the territorial waters of India, along with neighbouring regions and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the highlighting of perceived unethical practice, pp. 1-124 in Zootaxa 5236 (1) on pages 74-75, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5236.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7639327, {"references":["Pallas, P. S. (1766) Elenchus zoophytorum sistens generum adumbrationes generaliores et specierum cognitarum succinctas descriptiones cum selectis auctorum synonymis. Apud Franciscum Varrentrapp, Hagae Comitum, 451 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6595","Simpson, J. J. (1910) A revision of the Gorgonellidae: 1, The Juncellid group. Proceedings of the Royac Irish Academy, 28 B (7), 247 - 386.","Rao, D. V. & Devi, K. (2003) Studies on the soft corals (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) of Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional paper, 206, 1 - 99."]}

The pink sea fan, Eunicella verrucosa (Pallas, 1766), inhabits rocky substrates across the northeast Atlantic and the western Mediterranean. Across much of its range it has been detrimentally affected by fishing. DNA from 17 E. verrucosa specimens was amplified by phi29-induced rolling circle amplification. Following purification by sodium acetate-ethanol precipitation, the circular genomic DNA was sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq v2. Specimens originated from sites along the west coast of Ireland, southwest Wales, southwest/southern England, northwest France, southern Portugal, and the Mediterranean coast of northeast Spain. All samples had identical mitochondrial genome sequences of 19,267 bp and included 14 protein-coding genes (including the mutS gene), two ribosomal RNA subunits (12S and 16S) and one methionine tRNA gene. Two genes (nad2 and nad5) overlapped by 13 bp; all other genes were separated by non-coding intergenic regions. All protein-coding genes had the same start codon (ATG) and a TAA or TAG stop codon, except for cox1 that terminated with the incomplete stop codon T--. The mitochondrial genome of E. verrucosa (MW588805) showed 99.72% similarity with that of a related sea fan species, Eunicella cavolini, with six SNPs and a 49 bp deletion between nad5 and nad4 in E. verrucosa distinguishing the two.

Marine natural alkaloid, granulatamide B, belonging to the class of N-fatty acyl tryptamines, have been isolated from the coral species of the Eunicella genus.1 Despite the known moderate activity against various cancer cell lines in vitro, little is known about its other biological activities. Therefore, within our project, Bioprospecting of the Adriatic Sea, we have synthesized granulatamide B according to the procedure of Fürstner’s Fe-catalysed synthesis2, accompanied with several structural analogues formed by modification of the acyl moiety. A small compound library has been designed, containing a total of 13 compounds differing in the number of C-atoms, saturation degree and conjugation of double bonds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the synthesized compounds towards the formation and development of zebra fish Danio rerio embryos following previously described protocol.3 Among tested compounds in our study, 4 out of 13 harmed the survival and embryonic development of D. rerio within the tested concentration range. The highest toxicity in terms of zebrafish mortality was observed for compounds containing fatty acyl chains with conjugated double bonds including granulatamide B (LC50=44.34 µM). In addition, the most common developmental abnormalities observed during exposure to above mentioned compounds were edemas, scoliosis and blood accumulation.

Here, we announce the genomes of eight Roseibium album (synonym Labrenzia alba ) strains that were obtained from the octocoral Eunicella labiata . Genome annotation revealed multiple symbiosis factors common to all genomes, such as eukaryotic-like repeat protein- and multidrug resistance-encoding genes, which likely underpin symbiotic relationships with marine invertebrate hosts.

Background In octocorals (Cnidaria Octocorallia), the functional relationship between host health and its symbiotic consortium has yet to be determined. Here, we employed comparative metagenomics to uncover the distinct functional and phylogenetic features of the microbiomes of healthy Eunicella gazella, Eunicella verrucosa, and Leptogorgia sarmentosa tissues, in contrast with the microbiomes found in seawater and sediments. We further explored how the octocoral microbiome shifts to a pathobiome state in E. gazella. Results Multivariate analyses based on 16S rRNA genes, Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins (COGs), Protein families (Pfams), and secondary metabolite-biosynthetic gene clusters annotated from 20 Illumina-sequenced metagenomes each revealed separate clustering of the prokaryotic communities of healthy tissue samples of the three octocoral species from those of necrotic E. gazella tissue and surrounding environments. While the healthy octocoral microbiome was distinguished by so-far uncultivated Endozoicomonadaceae, Oceanospirillales, and Alteromonadales phylotypes in all host species, a pronounced increase of Flavobacteriaceae and Alphaproteobacteria, originating from seawater, was observed in necrotic E. gazella tissue. Increased abundances of eukaryotic-like proteins, exonucleases, restriction endonucleases, CRISPR/Cas proteins, and genes encoding for heat-shock proteins, inorganic ion transport, and iron storage distinguished the prokaryotic communities of healthy octocoral tissue regardless of the host species. An increase of arginase and nitric oxide reductase genes, observed in necrotic E. gazella tissues, suggests the existence of a mechanism for suppression of nitrite oxide production by which octocoral pathogens may overcome the host’s immune system. Conclusions This is the first study to employ primer-less, shotgun metagenome sequencing to unveil the taxonomic, functional, and secondary metabolism features of prokaryotic communities in octocorals. Our analyses reveal that the octocoral microbiome is distinct from those of the environmental surroundings, is host genus (but not species) specific, and undergoes large, complex structural changes in the transition to the dysbiotic state. Host-symbiont recognition, abiotic-stress response, micronutrient acquisition, and an antiviral defense arsenal comprising multiple restriction endonucleases, CRISPR/Cas systems, and phage lysogenization regulators are signatures of prokaryotic communities in octocorals. We argue that these features collectively contribute to the stabilization of symbiosis in the octocoral holobiont and constitute beneficial traits that can guide future studies on coral reef conservation and microbiome therapy.

Bottom-contact fisheries are unquestionably one of the main threats to the ecological integrity and functioning of deep-sea and circalittoral ecosystems, notably cold-water corals (CWC) and coral gardens. Lessons from the destructive impact of bottom trawling highlight the urgent need to understand how fisheries affect these vulnerable marine ecosystems. At the same time, the impact of other fishing gear and small-scale fisheries remains sparsely known despite anecdotal evidence suggesting their impact may be significant. This study aims to provide baseline information on coral bycatch by bottom-set gillnets used by artisanal fisheries in Sagres (Algarve, southwestern Portugal), thereby contributing to understand the impact of the activity but also the diversity and abundance of corals in this region. Coral bycatch frequency and species composition were quantified over two fishing seasons (summer-autumn and spring) for 42 days. The relationship with fishing effort was characterized according to metiers (n = 6). The results showed that 85% of the gillnet deployments caught corals. The maximum number of coral specimens per net was observed in a deployment targeting Lophius budegassa (n = 144). In total, 4,326 coral fragments and colonies of 22 different species were captured (fishing depth range of 57-510 m, mean 139 +/- 8 m). The most affected species were Eunicella verrucosa (32%), Paramuricea grayi (29%), Dendrophyllia cornigera (12%), and Dendrophyllia ramea (6%). The variables found to significantly influence the amount of corals caught were the target species, net length, depth, and mesh size. The 22 species of corals caught as bycatch belong to Orders Alcyonacea (80%), Scleractinia (18%), Zoantharia (1%), and Antipatharia (1%), corresponding to around 13% of the coral species known for the Portuguese mainland coast. These results show that the impact of artisanal fisheries on circalittoral coral gardens and CWC is potentially greater than previously appreciated, which underscores the need for new conservation measures and alternative fishing practices. Measures such as closure of fishing areas, frequent monitoring onboard of fishing vessels, or the development of encounter protocols in national waters are a good course of action. This study highlights the rich coral gardens of Sagres and how artisanal fisheries can pose significant threat to corals habitats in certain areas. HABMAR (Grant No.MAR-01.04.02-FEAMP-0018) co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund of the Operational Program MAR 2020 for Portugal (Portugal 2020), TECPESCA (Grant No. MAR2020 16-01-04-FMP-0010), and MARSW (Grant No. POSEUR/ICNF/LPN). FCT: UIDB/04326/2020/ SFRH/BSAB/150485/2019. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The pink sea fan Eunicella verrucosa is a habitat-forming octocoral living in the East Atlantic and in the Mediterranean Sea where, under proper circumstances, it can form large populations known as coral forests. Although these coral forests represent vulnerable marine ecosystems of great importance, these habitats are still poorly known, and their monitoring is almost non-existent to date. For this reason, we compared two different models to infer the age of E. verrucosa based on nondestructive measurements of the colonies&rsquo, size, in order to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the existing tools for a potential application in long-term monitoring. We also applied the two models on a case-study population recently found in the northwest Mediterranean Sea. Our results showed which model was more reliable from a biological point of view, considering both its structure and the results obtained on the case study. However, this model uses solely the height of the colonies as proxy to infer the age, while the total branch fan surface area could represent a more appropriate biometric parameter to monitor the size and the growth of E. verrucosa.

[EN] The Gulf of Valencia has a typical sandy bottom, which may not stand out for its ecological biodiversity. However, in some areas we can find biogenic structures formed by calcareous algae that have a large number of both plant and animal species. There are few studies that talk about the ecology of these structures that we can find in the Mediterranean Sea, and even less, about the Valencian Community’s coralligenous. In this work we’ve made a broad analysis of the biodiversity (algae, sponges, bryozoans, gorgonians and icthyofauna) that we can find in the coralligenous of the Southern Gulf of Valencia, choosing two coralligenous platforms, one shallower (< 20 m) and the other one, deeper (> 23 m). In both cases were studied how depth affects to the biodiversity and morphology of these formations. Therefore, the aims of this project are to establish bathymetric differences in coralligenous communities, in order to make known and protect this unique ecosystem, for this, several statistical analyzes have been realized given recorded data of algal coverage, where some brown and red algae have shown significant differences, increasing the complexity of the coralligenous platforms with the depth., [ES] El fondo del Golfo de Valencia típico arenoso, no destaca por su biodiversidad ecológica. Sin embargo, en algunas zonas podemos encontrar unas estructuras biogénicas formadas por algas calcáreas que albergan una gran cantidad de especies tanto vegetales como animales. Son pocos los estudios que existen sobre la ecología de estas estructuras que podemos encontrar en el mar Mediterráneo y, menos aún sobre el coralígeno de las costas de la Comunidad Valenciana. En este trabajo se ha realizado un amplio análisis de la biodiversidad (algas, esponjas, briozoos, gorgonias e ictiofauna) que alberga el coralígeno del Golfo sur de Valencia, eligiendo dos plataformas de coralígeno, una más somera (23 m), donde se ha estudiado cómo afecta la profundidad tanto a la biodiversidad como a la morfología de estas formaciones. Es por ello que este proyecto tiene como objetivo establecer diferencias batimétricas en las comunidades de coralígeno, con la finalidad de dar a conocer y proteger este ecosistema único, para ello, se han realizado varios análisis estadísticos teniendo en cuenta datos registrados de cobertura algal, donde algunas especies de algas pardas y rojas han mostrado diferencias significativas, aumentando la complejidad del coralígeno con la profundidad.

Increasing interest for recreational SCUBA diving worldwide is raising the concern about its potential effects on marine ecosystems. Available literature is still much focused either on impacts on coral reefs of tropical regions or on diver’s behaviour underwater. In this study we analysed, through photo-quadrats, the benthic community composition in a section of a decommissioned Portuguese navy ship that was sunk for touristic purposes. The ship broke down and became separated in two sections enabling a Control versus Impact sampling design, as one section is less attractive for diving. Gorgonians (mainly belonging to the species Leptogorgia sarmentosa and Eunicella verrucosa) were the taxa more negatively affected in the dived ship section, with smaller coverage and size. More resilient species such as the acorn barnacle Amphibalanus amphitrite were positively correlated with the Impact samples. In the case of the study area, according to the available data, 70% or more of the total amount of dives are now on the sunken ships. From these results, lessons can be taken to apply on natural reefs and related management plans.

Populations of key benthic habitat-forming octocoral species have declined significantly in the Mediterranean Sea due to mass mortality events caused by microbial disease outbreaks linked to high summer seawater temperatures. Recently, we showed that the microbial communities of these octocorals are relatively structured; however, our knowledge on the seasonal dynamics of these microbiomes is still limited. To investigate their seasonal stability, we collected four soft gorgonian species (Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Eunicella verrucosa and Leptogorgia sarmentosa) and the precious red coral (Corallium rubrum) from two coastal locations with different terrestrial impact levels in the Mediterranean Sea, and used next-generation amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbiomes of all soft gorgonian species were dominated by the same 'core microbiome' bacteria belonging to the Endozoicomonas and the Cellvibrionales clade BD1-7, whereas the red coral microbiome was primarily composed of 'core' Spirochaetes, Oceanospirillales ME2 and Parcubacteria. The associations with these bacterial taxa were relatively consistent over time at each location for each octocoral species. However, differences in microbiome composition and seasonal dynamics were observed between locations and could primarily be attributed to locally variant bacteria. Overall, our data provide further evidence of the intricate symbiotic relationships that exist between Mediterranean octocorals and their associated microbes, which are ancient and highly conserved over both space and time, and suggest regulation of the microbiome composition by the host, depending on local conditions. published

An accurate approach to coral disease study is critical for understanding the global decline of coral populations. Such an approach should involve the proper use of medical concepts and terminology to avoid confusion and promote clarity in the coral disease literature. Inflammatory and neoplastic disorders have been frequently confused in corals. They are both reported as ‘growth anomalies’ because of their possible gross similarity, but in fact they are very different types of lesions and pathologic phenomena. In this work, we assessed the distribution and prevalence of growth anomalies, externally visible as nodular-like lesions, in the soft corals Eunicella cavolinii and E. singularis in 2008-2009 in 3 different areas along the Campanian coastline of Italy. Histopathology revealed them as chronic inflammatory lesions, resembling chronic inflammatory lesions of vertebrates, encapsulating an unidentified pathogen. Congo red and Masson Fontana histochemistry highlighted an amoebocyte infiltration with the presence of new apposition of melanin coupled with amyloid sheets intended as part of the defensive response, as reported in other invertebrates. A parallel molecular analysis of 16S rRNA of the lesions suggested that the causative agent is an endolithic cyanobacterium belonging to the order Nostocales. This is the first study assessing the presence of amyloid fibrils in corals.

Gorgonian corals, which belong to the genus Eunicella, are known as natural sources of diverse compounds with unique structural characteristics and interesting bioactivities both in vitro and in vivo. This review is focused primarily on the secondary metabolites isolated from various Eunicella species. The chemical structures of 64 compounds were divided into three main groups and comprehensively presented: a) terpenoids, b) sterols, and c) alkaloids and nucleosides. The observed biological activities of depicted metabolites with an impact on cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities were reviewed. The most promising biological activities of certain metabolites point to potential candidates for further development in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries, and are highlighted. Total synthesis or the synthetic approaches towards the desired skeletons or natural products are also summarized.

Gorgonians are key habitat-forming species of Mediterranean benthic communities, but their populations have suffered from mass mortality events linked to high summer seawater temperatures and microbial disease. However, our knowledge on the diversity, dynamics and function of gorgonian-associated microbial communities is limited. Here, we analysed the spatial variability of the microbiomes of five sympatric gorgonian species (Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Eunicella verrucosa, Leptogorgia sarmentosa and Paramuricea clavata), collected from the Mediterranean Sea over a scale of ∼1100 km, using next-generation amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The microbiomes of all gorgonian species were generally dominated by members of the genus Endozoicomonas, which were at very low abundance in the surrounding seawater. Although the composition of the core microbiome (operational taxonomic units consistently present in a species) was found to be unique for each host species, significant overlap was observed. These spatially consistent associations between gorgonians and their core bacteria suggest intricate symbiotic relationships and regulation of the microbiome composition by the host. At the same time, local variations in microbiome composition were observed. Functional predictive profiling indicated that these differences could be attributed to seawater pollution. Taken together, our data indicate that gorgonian-associated microbiomes are composed of spatially conserved bacteria (core microbiome members) and locally variant members, and that local pollution may influence these local associations, potentially impacting gorgonian health.

Globally, the need to identify and establish integrated and connected systems of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is becoming increasingly recognised. For best practice, these networks need to be planned and assessed against multiple criteria. However, building a sound evidence base to support decision-making processes is complex, as well as fiscally and logistically challenging. Recent studies have demonstrated the utility of integrating ‘citizen science’ data into mainstream scientific analysis, particularly where broad-scale spatial patterns of distribution are required. In UK waters, the pink sea fan (Eunicella verrucosa) is a nationally protected slow growing, cold-water coral, and is a representative species of reef features that provide habitat for many other sessile species. However, this species is vulnerable to physical impact and loss of suitable substratum, and is likely highly vulnerable to bottom-towed fishing gears. In this study, data from a volunteer-based marine survey programme (‘Seasearch’) are analysed with the aim of describing the spatial distribution and relative abundance of pink sea fan colonies throughout southwest UK coastal waters. The congruence between pink sea fans and the extant southern UK MPA network is reported, and the current threat from Bottom-Towed Gear (BTG) to pink sea fan dominated reefs, that have historically lacked protection, is quantitatively assessed. This analysis reveals that protection of this and other benthic species has been increased by management of previously ‘open access’ MPAs. Nonetheless, areas of pink sea fan habitat and their host reef systems exist outside extant protected areas in southwest UK seas, and as such are potentially at risk from bottom-towed fisheries. This analysis demonstrates the utility of well-organised citizen science data collection and highlights how such efforts can help inform knowledge on broad scale patterns of biodiversity.

We report here the genome sequence of Labrenzia sp. EL143, an alphaproteobacterium isolated from the gorgonian coral Eunicella labiata that possesses various genes involved in halogen and aromatic compound degradation, as well as polyketide synthesis. The strain also maintains multiple genes that confer resistance to toxic compounds such as heavy metals and antibiotics.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Sphingorhabdus sp. strain EL138, an alphaproteobacterium that shows potential to degrade polycyclic aromatic compounds and to cope with various heavy metals and antibiotics. Moreover, the strain, isolated from the gorgonian coral Eunicella labiata , possesses several genes involved in the biosynthesis of polyphosphates, polyketides, and terpenoids.

12 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Gorgonian corals serve as key engineering species within Mediterranean rocky-shore communities that have recently suffered from repeated mortality events during warm temperature anomalies. Among the factors that may link thermal conditions with disease outbreaks, a number of bacterial pathogens have been implicated; they may take advantage of decreases in the defenses and/or overall health of the gorgonian hosts. Considering the beneficial role of the resident bacteria in tropical coral holobionts, a detailed characterization of the gorgonian-associated microbial populations is required to better understand the relationships among native microbiota, host fitness, and pathogen susceptibility. In this study, the bacterial communities associated with three sympatric gorgonian species, Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, and Corallium rubrum, were investigated to provide insight into the stability and the specificity of host–microbe interactions. Natural variations in bacterial communities were detected using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of the 16S ribosomal DNA. No major differences were identified between individual colonies sampled in winter or in summer within each gorgonian species. Although hierarchical cluster analysis of the T-RFLP profiles revealed that the three species harbor distinct communities, comparison of the T-RFLP peaks indicated the presence of common bacterial ribotypes. From phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA clone libraries, we identified a bacterial lineage related to the Hahellaceae family within the Oceanospirillales that is shared among E. singularis, E. cavolini, and C. rubrum and that dominates the communities of both species of Eunicella. However, distinct clades of Hahellaceae are harbored by various gorgonian species from Mediterranean and tropical waters, suggesting that these bacteria have formed host-specific symbiotic relationships with gorgonian octocorals. In addition, the relatedness of symbionts from host species belonging to the same taxon but occurring in geographically remote areas is consistent with codivergence between gorgonians and their associated bacteria, This research was supported by the Total Foundation for Marine Biodiversit

12 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables, [EN] Gorgonian species play an important ecological role in the structure and function of marine communities. Human activities are negatively affecting the conservation status of gorgonian populations in the Mediterranean. Acquiring knowledge of gorgonian distribution is therefore a key step required to promote efficient management and conservation actions. However, information on the distribution of gorgonian species is lacking in many Mediterranean areas. This study aimed to provide an overview of the geographic and bathymetric distributions of gorgonians in the coastal waters of the Tunisian coast (1136 km). The sampling design encompassed three sectors, 27 localities and 87 sites. Information was collected from scuba diving (26 sites) and local ecological knowledge surveys of fishermen and divers (132 interviews), as well as from a literature review. Overall, the occurrence of eight gorgonians was confirmed at 54 out of the 87 sites surveyed in Tunisian coastal waters (7-120 m depth). The species that were found were Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Paramuricea clavata, Paramuricea macrospina, Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Eunicella verrucosa, Corallium rubrum and Ellisella paraplexauroides. The highest gorgonian species richness and abundance was recorded in northern, followed by eastern Tunisian waters. In the southern areas only one species was recorded. This pattern was related to the rocky substrate that characterizes the northern and eastern coasts of Tunisia. This study is the first to report the occurrence of E. singularis, E. cavolini, E. verrucosa and Leptogorgia sarmentosa in northern and eastern Tunisian waters. The results are discussed in the hope of guiding future conservation and management actions for gorgonian assemblages in Tunisia, [ES] Las especies de gorgonias juegan un papel ecológico importante en la estructura y función de las comunidades marinas. Las perturbaciones asociadas a las actividades humanas están afectando negativamente el estado de conservación de las poblaciones de gorgonias en el Mediterráneo. Conocer la distribución de las especies de gorgonias es una etapa clave para promover planes de gestión y acciones de conservación eficaces. Sin embargo, en muchas áreas del Mediterráneo no disponemos de información sobre la distribución de las especies de gorgonias. Este estudio tiene como objetivo proporcionar una visión general de la distribución geográfica y batimétrica de las especies de gorgonias en las costas de Túnez (1136 km). El diseño del muestreo abarcó 3 sectores, 27 localidades y 87 estaciones de muestreo. Se recolectó información a través de muestreos con escafandra autónoma (26 estaciones), entrevistas a pescadores y buceadores (132 entrevistas) aplicando las técnicas de Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), así como de una revisión de la literatura disponible. En general, la presencia de ocho gorgonias se confirmó en 54 de las 87 estaciones de muestreo en la costa de Túnez (7-120 m de profundidad). Las especies encontradas fueron Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolini, Paramuricea clavata, Paramuricea macrospina, Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Eunicella verrucosa, Corallium rubrum y Ellisella paraplexauroides. La riqueza y abundancia de especies de gorgonias fueron más elevadas en la costa del Norte de Túnez seguida por la costa Este. En la costa del Sur solo se encontró una única especie de gorgonia. Este resultado se ha relacionado con la mayor proporción de sustrato rocoso presente a las costas del norte y este de Túnez. Este estudio permitió citar la presencia por primera vez de las especies de gorgonias Eunicella singularis, E. cavolini, E. verrucosa y Leptogorgia sarmentosa en la costa del norte y este de Túnez. Los resultados obtenidos pretenden contribuir a la adopción de acciones de gestión y conservación de las poblaciones de gorgonias en Túnez, This study was supported by the “Tropical signals program” of the Mediterranean Science Commission and was partially funded by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation “MIMOSA project Are Mediterranean marine protected areas efficient against warming effects?”.Joaquim Garrabou is part of the Marine Conservation Research Group (MedRecover, 2014 SGR 1297) from the Generalitat de Catalunya

Gorgonian corals play a structural role in temperate and tropical biogenic reefs, forming animal forests and creating biodiversity hot spots. In the Mediterranean Sea, slow-growing and long-lived gorgonian species are threatened by human disturbances and global environmental changes and concern about their conservation is rising. Alkaloid metabolites have proven to be essential in protecting these species from environmental stressors. Traditional profiling methodologies to detect these metabolites require a large quantity of living tissue. Here, the chemodiversity of gorgonian alkaloids was investigated by applying a fast and effective protocol combining extraction and derivatization using small-scale tissue samples and GC/MS analysis. The method was effective in identifying and quantifying alkaloids and guanine-based compounds. Eight N-heterocyclic compounds were found in six Mediterranean gorgonians differing for types and quantity. The metabolomic profile was conservative in species of the Eunicella genus, with three species sharing the same pattern. Conversely, Paramuricea clavata displayed a noticeable spatial pattern of variation among colonies collected in different locations. The analytical approach presented here proved to be effective, allowing rare, endangered, and small-sized species to be screened rapidly for detection of new compounds in order to explore their biological and ecological functions.

In the Mediterranean, habitat-forming corals often characterize essential fish habitats. While their distribution is sufficiently known for the western basin, few data are available from the Central-Eastern Mediterranean Sea (CEM). This study fills this gap supplying the largest dataset ever built on the geographical and bathymetric distribution of the most relevant habitat-forming corals (Eunicella cavolini, Eunicella verrucosa, Eunicella singularis, Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Paramuricea clavata, Corallium rubrum and Savalia savaglia) of the CEM. Information collected from different sources such as literature, citizen science, and from the World Wide Web (WWW) was combined. Videos published on the WWW provided additional information on the presence of fishing lines and signs of damage, as well as on the distribution of purple and yellow-purple colonies of Paramuricea clavata. The study highlighted the impressive amount of information that the WWW can offer to scientists, termed here as Web Ecological Knowledge (WEK). The WEK is constantly fuelled by internauts, representing a free, refreshable, long-term exploitable reservoir of information. A quick and easy method to retrieve data from the WWW was illustrated. In addition, the distribution of corals was overlapped to marine protected areas and to the distribution of environmental conditions suitable for coralligenous habitats, fragile biogenic Mediterranean structures hosting complex assemblages in need of strict protection. The collected data allowed identifying priority areas with high species diversity and sites that are impacted by fishing activities. Supplied data can correctly address conservation and restoration policies in the CEM, adding an important contribution to ecosystem-based marine spatial planning.

The study of the interplay between speciation and hybridization is of primary importance in evolutionary biology. Octocorals are ecologically important species whose shallow phylogenetic relationships often remain to be studied. In the Mediterranean Sea, three congeneric octocorals can be observed in sympatry: Eunicella verrucosa, Eunicella cavolini and Eunicella singularis. They display morphological differences and E.singularis hosts photosynthetic Symbiodinium, contrary to the two other species. Two nuclear sequence markers were used to study speciation and gene flow between these species, through network analysis and Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC). Shared sequences indicated the possibility of hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting. According to ABC, a scenario of gene flow through secondary contact was the best model to explain these results. At the intraspecific level, neither geographical nor ecological isolation corresponded to distinct genetic lineages in E.cavolini. These results are discussed in the light of the potential role of ecology and genetic incompatibilities in the persistence of species limits. French National Research Agency (ANR) program Adacni (ANR) [ANR-12-ADAP-0016] CNRS Hubert Curien 'Tassili' program [12MDU853] CCMAR Strategic Plan from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia-FCT [PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2011, FEDER info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Microbial communities inhabiting gorgonian corals are believed to benefit their hosts through nutrient provision and chemical defence; yet much remains to be learned about their phylogenetic uniqueness and cultivability. Here, we determined the prokaryotic community structure and distinctiveness in the gorgonian Eunicella labiata by Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes from gorgonian and seawater metagenomic DNA. Furthermore, we used a 'plate-wash' methodology to compare the phylogenetic diversity of the 'total' gorgonian bacteriome and its 'cultivatable' fraction. With 1016 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), prokaryotic richness was higher in seawater than in E. labiata where 603 OTUs were detected, 68 of which were host-specific. Oceanospirillales and Rhodobacterales predominated in the E. labiata communities. One Oceanospirillales OTU, classified as Endozoicomonas, was particularly dominant, and closest relatives comprised exclusively uncultured clones from other gorgonians. We cultivated a remarkable 62% of the bacterial symbionts inhabiting E. labiata: Ruegeria, Sphingorhabdus, Labrenzia, other unclassified Rhodobacteraceae, Vibrio and Shewanella ranked among the 10 most abundant genera in both the cultivation-independent and dependent samples. In conclusion, the E. labiata microbiome is diverse, distinct from seawater and enriched in (gorgonian)-specific bacterial phylotypes. In contrast to current understanding, many dominant E. labiata symbionts can, indeed, be cultivated. Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [EXPL/MAR-EST/1664/2013, SFRH/BPD/34282/2006] German Volkswagen (VW) foundation [Az. 81 040-2] info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

We isolated 165 unique microsatellite sequences from the threatened and IUCN red-listed octocoral Eunicella verrucosa (common name: pink sea fan). Two enriched genomic libraries were created from a single individual collected in Lyme Bay, Dorset, England. Following testing of 76 markers, 14 loci were then selected, multiplexed and characterised in 44 individuals sampled at the Mewstone Ledges, Plymouth Sound, Devon, England. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 10 and expected heterozygosities from 0.05 to 0.82. The presence of null alleles was suggested for four loci, with three showing significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. No linkage disequilibrium was detected. Cross-species utility was assessed in Eunicella singularis (n = 20), E. cavolinii (n = 12) and Leptogorgia sarmentosa (n = 3) collected from the Mediterranean and southern Portugal. At least ten loci were polymorphic in each Eunicella species and five in L. sarmentosa. These markers should prove useful in exploring population structure in these as yet poorly studied animals.

The nudibranch Tritonia nilsodhneri, usually feeding on a variety of gorgoniacean species, is known from different localities of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Knowledge of the host preferences of the Mediterranean populations is still scarce. Few records of this nudibranch have been reported from the eastern Mediterranean basin. With this report, the occurrence of T. nilsodhneri within the Mediterranean basin is extended to the Adriatic Sea. Furthermore, the list of the host species associated to the Mediterranean populations for feeding habits is increased from two up to five. Mediterranean specimens of T. nilsodhneri were observed for the first time feeding and spawning on Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Eunicella cavolini and E. labiata. Finally, these last two Gorgoniidae species are also reported here as a new host species for T. nilsodhneri., Morski puž golać, Tritonia nilsodhneri, poznat je s različitih lokaliteta istočnog Atlantskog oceana i Sredozemnog mora, a obično se hrani raznim vrstama gorgonija. Podatci o domaćinima za ovu vrstu u Sredozemlju su još uvijek rijetki. Postoji nekoliko zapisa o ovom pužu u istočnom dijelu Sredozemlja. Ovim radom zabilježena je nazočnost vrste T. nilsodhneri u Jadranskom moru. Nadalje, popis vrsta domaćina koji su povezani sa hranjenjem i mriještenjem sredozemne populacije se povećao sa dva na pet. Sredozemni primjerci T. nilsodheri su po prvi put zabilježeni tijekom hranjenja i mriješćenja na vrstama Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Eunicella cavolini i E. labiata. Ove posljednje dvije spomenute vrste Gorgonida su u ovom radu po prvi put zabilježene kao nova vrsta domaćina za T. nilsodheri.

Carbon and nitrogen isotope abundance values (d13C and d15N, respectively) were measured for the first time in the soft tissue, axial skeleton, and spicules of 4 Mediterranean gorgonians, 3 asymbiotic (Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Paramuricea clavata, and Eunicella verrucosa) and 1 symbiotic with autotrophic dinoflagellates (Eunicella singularis). The isotopic composition of their diet, i.e. zooplankton, particulate organic matter (POM), and sedimentary organic matter (SOM), was also measured to understand gorgonian feeding ecology. (1) Carbon and nitrogen signatures of the symbiotic E. singularis tissue in summer differed significantly from the signatures of the other species; (2) carbon and nitrogen signatures of the axial skeleton were similar to those of the tissue, because the skeleton is primarily made of gorgonin secreted by the tissue; and (3) spicules had a high d13C signature because they are made by a combination of 60 to 76% of respiratory CO2 and of external CO2, with a high d13C signature. Comparison of the isotopic signatures of the gorgonian tissues and the food sources indicated that E. singularis and P. clavata had the same diet in both winter and summer, either zooplankton for E. singularis or POM and SOM for P. clavata. Conversely, L. sarmentosa and E. verrucosa shifted from zooplankton in winter to SOM in summer. These results bring insights into the feeding ecology of temperate gorgonians and explain their distribution, abundance, and role in the flow of particulate matter between the water column and the benthos. © Inter-Research 2013.

To address the metabolic potential of symbiotic Aquimarina spp., we report here the genome sequence of Aquimarina sp. strain EL33, a bacterium isolated from the gorgonian coral Eunicella labiata . This first-described (to our knowledge) animal-associated Aquimarina genome possesses a sophisticated repertoire of genes involved in drug/antibiotic resistance and biosynthesis.

To shed light on the associations established between Vibrio species and soft corals in coastal ecosystems, we report here the draft genome sequence of Vibrio sp. strain Evh12, a bacterium that has been isolated from the gorgonian coral Eunicella verrucosa and that shows antagonistic activity against Escherichia coli .

The macrofauna assemblages of a XVIIth century shipwreck off southern Portugal were studied and compared with those of nearby natural reefs and sandy bottoms, by underwater visual census. A total of 11 173 specimens of 224 different fauna taxa and 12 phyla were recorded. Natural reefs had the highest density of specimens (35 122 / 1000 m²) followed by the shipwreck (21 392 / 1000 m²) and the sandy bottoms (3771 / 1000 m²). Three biodiversity indices were estimated (Margalef, Shannon-Wiener and Pielou), with the natural reefs showing the highest values. However, the shipwreck presented values relatively similar to those of the natural reefs for the Shannon-Wiener and Pielou indices. The three habitats were clearly distinguishable by multivariate statistical analysis, with the average dissimilarity between sand and shipwreck, and between sand and natural reefs being much higher than that between the shipwreck and the natural reefs. The shipwreck had higher abundances of some commercially important species, such as the pouting Trisopterus luscus, European conger Conger conger, and common spider crab Maja squinado, as well as some vulnerable and threatened species such as the pink seafan Eunicella verrucosa. The results presented emphasize the importance of this habitat on the southern Portuguese coast.As comunidades de macrofauna de um naufrágio do século XVII ocorrido ao largo da costa Sul de Portugal, foram estudadas e comparadas com recifes naturais e fundos de areia através de census visuais subaquáticos. Foram registados 11 173 espécimes pertencentes a 224 taxa faunísticos e 12 phyla. Os recifes naturais apresentaram a maior densidade de espécimes (35 122 / 1000 m²) seguidos do naufrágio (21 392 / 1000 m²) e dos fundos de areia (3771 / 1000 m²). Foram calculados três índices de biodiversidade (Margalef, Shannon-Wiener e Pielou), com os recifes naturais que apresentarem os valores mais elevados. No entanto, o naufrágio mostrou valores relativamente semelhantes aos fundos rochosos nos índices de Shannon-Wiener e Pielou. Os três habitats foram separados por estatística multivariada, com a dissimilaridade média entre areia e naufrágio, e entre areia e recifes naturais sendo muito superior à dissimilaridade entre os recifes naturais e o naufrágio. O naufrágio apresentou elevada abundância de algumas espécies comercialmente importantes, como a faneca Trisopterus luscus, o safio Conger conger e a santola Maja squinado, assim como de espécies vulneráveis e ameaçadas como a gorgonia rosa Eunicella verrucosa. Os resultados apresentados realçam a importância desse habitat para a costa Sul de Portugal.

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.

Gorgonians are important organisms in the Mediterranean Sea, where they form rocky benthic communities. Four main species (3 Holaxonia and 1 Scleraxonia) are predominant in infra- and circalittoral communities of the northwestern Mediterranean basin. Other species, such as Eunicella verrucosa (Pallas, 1766), are more rarely encountered. The expansion to unusually shallow bathymetric levels has been noted in the region of Marseilles (France) (between 20 and 40 m depth). A ten-year monitoring of colonies was used to assess the growth rate according to age (size): from 3.33 cm year –1 (height –1 (height > 40 cm).

Scallop dredging is considered to be one of the most destructive bottom fisheries, yet empirical field evidence to support this assertion, in particular for highly structured habitats, is limited. With this study, we investigated the effects of scallop dredging on the fauna of a temperate stony reef through a comparison of areas subject to different levels of fishing activity. Significant negative effects of scallop dredging were evident for 3 of the 9 species analyzed from video samples. Sessile emergent epifaunal species had significantly lower occurrences and abundances at fished sites compared to unfished sites, while commercial target species such as scallops and crabs were not significantly affected by fishing. Contrary to expectation, the pink sea fan Eunicella verrucosa, a species of local conservation concern, did not show a significant negative response with respect to abundance and average body size to the intensity of scallop dredging it had been subjected to. The absence of a clearly detectable fishing effect on this species may be related to its association with the topographically more complex areas of the reef in which the fishing efficiency of scallop dredges will be reduced. The evidence presented here demonstrates that not all species were equally affected by scallop dredging and that the complexity of stony reef habitats may provide some measure of protec- tion at low fishing intensities.

During the last few decades, Mediterranean epibenthic assemblages have been involved in mass mortality events, in which sea fans were one of the most threatened groups. Explants of the most common Mediterranean gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata, Eunicella cavolinii, E. singularis, and E. verrucosa, 40 explants from each species) were transplanted in the field in order to evaluate the response to transplantation, survival and growth rate of the cuttings during an annual cycle, from February 2003 to March 2004. Colonies of each species overcame transplantation stress and during the first three months they showed a mean survival rate of 98% and an average positive growth rate of 7.65%. In the summer season 2003, during the heatwave that affected the Mediterranean basin, the experimental cuttings suffered, showing a mean negative growth rate and a reduction of survival. At the end of the stress event, P. clavata revealed the worst recovery while all Eunicella species showed a good ability to recover. In particu...

An ex-Royal Navy frigate, HMS ‘Scylla’, was placed on the seabed in Whitsand Bay, south Cornwall on 27 March 2004. After five years, the reef supported a mature steel wreck community. The colonization of the reef showed wide fluctuations in species abundance in the first two years but, by 2006, most species that dominated or characterized the reef after five years had settled. Significant colonization events included settlement of barnacles, tubeworms and hydroids within a month and remarkably high settlements of the sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris and the queen scallop Aequipecten opercularis in the first year together with starfish Asterias rubens, solitary sea squirts and ephemeral algae. The plumose anemone Metridium senile, a characteristic species of wrecks, arrived in late summer 2004 but the widely distributed dead man's fingers Alcyonium digitatum was not observed until spring 2005. Wrasse were slow to colonize the reef but were established in small numbers by the end of 2007. Sea fans, Eunicella verrucosa, were first observed in August 2007. The species count for the reef stood at 263 taxa by the end of March 2009. The inside of the reef remained poorly colonized even after five years. Areas coated with tributyltin (TBT) antifouling paint only had colonization where the paint had flaked-off or on non-toxic paint markings, but with some indication that colonization may be occurring by a very few species especially near to non-TBT areas. Many species characteristic of natural reefs had not settled and neither do they occur on older wrecks including branching axinellid sponges, some cushion sponges and the yellow cluster anemone Parazoanthus axinellae. The artificial reef developed a community that was distinctly different to nearby natural rock reefs and such artificial structures should not be considered as a replacement for damaged or destroyed natural habitats.

20 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables, supporting information https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160678.-- We have obtained the GenBank Accession numbers for all the sequences used in the work (GenBank from KX051564 to KX051577 and from KX002245 to KX002255), Gorgonian species show a high morphological variability in relation to the environment in which they live. In coastal areas, parameters such as temperature, light, currents, and food availability vary significantly with depth, potentially affecting morphology of the colonies and the structure of the populations, as well as their connectivity patterns. In tropical seas, the existence of connectivity between shallow and deep populations supported the hypothesis that the deep coral reefs could potentially act as (reproductive) refugia fostering re-colonization of shallow areas after mortality events. Moreover, this hypothesis is not so clear accepted in temperate seas. Eunicella singularis is one of the most common gorgonian species in Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, playing an important role as ecosystem engineer by providing biomass and complexity to the coralligenous habitats. It has a wide bathymetric distribution ranging from about 10m to 100 m. Two depth-related morphotypes have been identified, differing in colony morphology, sclerite size and shape, and occurrence of symbiotic algae, but not inmitochondrial DNA haplotypes. In the present study the genetic structure of E. singularis populations along a horizontal and bathymetric gradient was assessed using microsatellites and ITS1 sequences. Restricted gene flow was found at 30-40 m depth between the two Eunicella morphotypes. Conversely, no genetic structuring has been found among shallow water populations within a spatial scale of ten kilometers. The break in gene flow between shallow and deep populations contributes to explain the morphological variability observed at different depths.Moreover, the limited vertical connectivity hinted that the refugia hypothesis does not apply to E. singularis. Re-colonization of shallow water populations, occasionally affected by mass mortality events, should then be mainly fueled by larvae from other shallow water populations, AG was funded by a I3P contract of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Ref. I3P-BPD2005). SR wants to thank the support of the Generalitat de Catalunya to MERS (2014 SGR-1356) and the Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship (ANIMAL FOREST HEALTH, project number 327845). The study was funded by a 2003-2004 INTERREG project between Catalonia-Languedoc Rouissillon ''Pirineus Mediterrànis: La muntanya que uneix'' of the CSIC and CNRS, of the 2009-2013 European project LIFE+ INDEMARES ''Inventario y designación de la red natura 2000 en áreas marinas del estado español'' (LIFE07/NAT/E/000732) of the European Union, and by a PRIN 2010-2011 project (prot. 2010Z8HJ5M) on 'Coastal bioconstructions: structure, function and management' Italian Ministry of Education, Univeristy and Research

New records are given of the occurrence of the warm-water barnacle Solidobalanus fallax in Britain and Europe. This barnacle is not found on rocks or stones, but settles on biological substrata, including algae, cnidarians, bivalves, gastropods and crustaceans. It also settles on plastic bags and nets, plastic-coated objects such as crab and lobster pots and octopus pots made of ceramic or plastic. With one exception the species was unrecorded in Europe before 1980; it may have increased in abundance during recent years as a result of rising temperatures. The cyprid larvae, which can metamorphose on plastic Petri dishes, appear to be adapted to seek out ‘low energy’ surfaces. One of the habitats colonized by S. fallax is the sea-fan Eunicella verrucosa, where it seems to have increased in recent years, possibly to the detriment of the cnidarian host. Solidobalanus fallax has the potential to be a serious pest of fish-farming structures to the south of Britain.

In lower metazoans, the aggregative properties of dissociated cells leading to in vitro stable multicellular aggregates have furnished a remarkable experimental material to carry out investigations in various research fields. One of the main expectations is to find good models for the study in vitro of the first steps of biomineralization processes. In this study, we examined five common Mediterranean gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata, Corallium rubrum, Eunicella singularis, Eunicella cavolinii, and Eunicella verrucosa) using mechanical cell aggregate production techniques. In particular, we investigated the conditions of aggregate formation, their number and survival in experimental conditions, the DNA synthesizing activity using 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) tests, and the response to calcein addition and observed the secretion of newly formed sclerites. The BrdU tests showed that cell proliferation depends on the size of aggregates and on the presence/absence of symbiotic zooxanthellae. With epifluorescent and confocal imaging from calcein addition assays, we observed the presence of calcium ions within cells, a possible clue for prediction of sclerite formation or calcium deposition. The species-specific efficiency in production of cell aggregates is correlated to the size of polyps, showing that the higher density of polyps and their diameter correspond to higher production of cell aggregates. Regarding the long-term maintenance, we obtained the best results from E. singularis, which formed multicellular aggregates of 0.245 mm ± 0.086 mm in size and maintained symbiotic association with zooxanthellae throughout the experimental run. Formation of sclerites within aggregates opens a wide field of investigation on biomineralization, since de novo sclerites were observed around 30 d after the beginning of the experiment.

Background Gorgonians of the genus Eunicella are known for possessing a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antiproliferative and antibacterial effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effect of the organic extract and its semi-purified fractions from the white gorgonian Eunicella singularis and the isolation and identification of pure compound(s) from the more effective fraction. Methods Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test and in comparison to the reference drug Acetylsalicylate of Lysine. The gastroprotective activity was determined using HCl/EtOH induced gastric ulcers in rats. The purification of compound(s) from the more effective fraction was done by two chromatographic methods (HPLC and MPLC). The structure elucidation was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis (1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HMBC, HMQC and NOESY) and by comparison with data reported in the literature. Results The evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of different fractions from Eunicella singularis showed in a dependent dose manner an important anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol fraction, the percentage of inhibition of edema, 3 h after carrageenan injection was 66.12%, more effective than the reference drug (56.32%). In addition, this ethanolic fraction showed an interesting gastroprotective effect compared to the reference drugs, ranitidine and omeprazol. The percentage of inhibition of gastric ulcer induced by HCl/ethanol in rats was 70.27%. The percentage of the reference drugs (ranitidine and omeprazol) were 65 and 87.53%, respectively. The purification and structure elucidation of compound(s) from this ethanolic fraction were leading to the isolation of five sterols: cholesterol (5α-cholest-5-en-3β-ol) (1); ergosterol (ergosta-5,22-dien-3β-ol) (2); stigmasterol (24-ethylcholesta-5,22-dien-3b-ol) (3); 5α,8α-epidioxyergosta 6,22-dien-3β-ol (4) and 3β-hydroxy-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-ene (5); and one diterpenoid: palmonine D (6). Conclusion Based on data presented here, we concluded that diterpenoids and sterols detected in the ethanolic fraction can be responsible for its pharmacological activity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40199-014-0064-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The bacterial communities associated with healthy and diseased colonies of the cold-water gorgonian coral Eunicella verrucosa at three sites off the south-west coast of England were compared using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone libraries. Significant differences in community structure between healthy and diseased samples were discovered, as were differences in the level of disturbance to these communities at each site; this correlated with depth and sediment load. The majority of cloned sequences from healthy coral tissue affiliated with the Gammaproteobacteria. The stability of the bacterial community and dominance of specific genera found across visibly healthy colonies suggest the presence of a specific microbial community. Affiliations included a high proportion of Endozoicomonas sequences, which were most similar to sequences found in tropical corals. This genus has been found in a number of invertebrates and is suggested to have a role in coral health and in the metabolisation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) produced by zooxanthellae. However, screening of colonies for the presence of zooxanthellae produced a negative result. Diseased colonies showed a decrease in affiliated clones and an increase in clones related to potentially harmful/transient microorganisms but no increase in a particular pathogen. This study demonstrates that a better understanding of these bacterial communities, the factors that affect them and their role in coral health and disease will be of critical importance in predicting future threats to temperate gorgonian communities.

We examined the effects of fishing with crustacean traps on benthic species in Great Britain by means of qualitative and quantitative experiments. Experimental sites were selected where fishing using pots or creels was practised regularly and where species perceived to be potentially sensitive to damage were present. The effect of Nephrops creels on different sea pen species was studied in Scottish sea lochs. Sea pens were observed to bend in response to the pressure wave before the creel made contact. After smothering and even uprooting, they re-established themselves when in contact with muddy substrate. Observations of lobster and crab pots being hauled from rocky substrates in southern England, revealed that the habitats and their communities appeared relatively unaffected by potting. The slow-growing, long-lived, pink sea fan Eunicella verrucosa were observed to flex under the weight of pots as they passed and then returned back to an upright position. Quantitative studies, undertaken in south England and west Wales, were based on surveys carried out along transect lines before and after a month of pot fishing for crabs and lobsters. The results suggest that four weeks of fairly intense fishing did not have immediate detrimental effects on the abundance of the species selected for study, although some individual ross coral colonies (Pentapora foliacea) were damaged.

An unprecedented mass mortality event has been observed at the end of the summer 1999 along the coasts of Provence (France) and Ligury (Italy). This event has severely affected a wide array of sessile filter-feeder invertebrates from hard-substratum communities, such as sponges (particularly the keratose sponges Hippospongia and Spongia ), cnidarians (particularly the anthozoans Corallium, Paramuricea, Eunicella and Cladocora ), bivalves, ascidians and bryozoans. Along the Provence coasts, the outbreak spread from east to west. Exceptionally high and constant temperatures of the whole water column (23–24 °C, for over one month, down to 40 m) could have determined an environmental context favourable to the mass mortality event. Like the thermal anomaly, the mortality is limited in depth. However, we cannot ascertain whether temperature had a direct effect on organisms or acted in synergy with a latent and/or waterborne agent (microbiological or chemical). Taking into account the global warming context in the NW-Mediterranean, monitoring programs of physical-chemical parameters and vulnerable populations should rapidly be set up.