The increasing CO2 concentration is a major cause of the climate change phenomenon. Concurrently, the same increase is leading to ocean acidification (OA), which is projected to decrease seawater pH by 0.4 units by 2100. Here we investigated the potential impacts of OA on the canopy-forming brown macroalga Gongolaria barbata from the Venice Lagoon. One-year-old individuals were maintained in mesocosms under two pH levels: 8.1 (current ambient value) and 7.7 (the end-of-the-century value predicted under the current scenario of anthropogenic CO2 emissions). The physiological responses of the algae were assessed during the experiment in terms of oxygen production and consumption, and maximal PSII photochemical efficiency. At the end of the experiment, we analyzed the percentage of mature receptacles, algal growth rate and the total polyphenolic content and antioxidant capacity as indicators of the stress response. The significant decrease in polyphenolic content indicates the impairment of the defence mechanisms, which could make the algae more vulnerable to grazing under acidified conditions. Yet, conversely, our results suggest that changes in pH levels do not significantly affect the physiological processes, growth or fertility of the algae. These findings suggest that while OA may weaken defence mechanisms, the preservation of physiological and reproductive functions would still support the potential of G. barbata populations from the Venice Lagoon to act as donor sources for restoration efforts, highlighting their resistance to the acidified conditions expected in the future.

Kelp forests, formed by large brown algae in the orders Laminariales and Fucales, are among the most widespread marine ecosystems. Despite their scale and importance to people, kelp forests remain under-recognized by the public and underrepresented in global policy and conservation agendas. We quantify the global spatial overlap between the kelp biome and human populations, economic activity, anthropogenic pressures, and projected ocean warming to assess the extent and geography of the coupling between kelp and people. We synthesised distributions of laminarian and fucoid kelp forests, explicitly distinguishing between 'major' kelp forests and 'minor' kelp forests. These distributions were intersected with global datasets on population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), cumulative human impact, and projected sea surface temperature (SST) change to 2100. Analyses focused on populations and economic activity within 50 km of major kelp habitats. Approximately 959 million people live within 50 km of kelp forests globally (12% of global population), including 781 million adjacent to major kelp forests. These regions account for $27.6 trillion or ∼18% of global GDP and include major metropolitan centres such as Tokyo, Seoul, Los Angeles, Sydney, and several Mediterranean cities. Cumulative human pressures on kelp-associated coastlines are highest in densely populated temperate regions, particularly the Mediterranean, northwest Atlantic, and East Asia. Warming by 2100 is greatest at high latitudes, but the strongest link to people occurs in temperate regions where projected SST increases coincide with dense populations and high economic output. Our results support the idea that kelp forests are integrated into modern social-ecological systems, while overlooked in governance and funding. This global assessment identifies the tight coupling between people and kelp forests while identifying geographic risks and opportunity hotspots. Together, the work provides a foundation for communicating the role of kelp forests in society and for prioritising kelp conservation within marine conservation agendas.

Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), introduced by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), refer to areas outside formal protected-area networks that deliver effective and enduring in situ biodiversity conservation. This scoping review systematically examined global approaches to identifying and evaluating potential OECMs. Analysing 99 studies covering 694 case studies and 237 000 potential sites, we found that potential OECMs are widespread, particularly in Asia and terrestrial environments, with most initiatives led by the environmental sector. Assessments relied largely on qualitative expert knowledge, with limited application of analytical methods. Although CBD criteria were commonly applied, contributions of related to ecosystem services and socio-cultural values were often overlooked. Effectiveness evaluations showed considerable uncertainty, with over one-third of case studies reporting inadequate evidence of conservation outcomes. The review emphasises the need for standardised assessment methodologies, improved decision-support tools, and socio-cultural integration to enhance OECM recognition, particularly under the 30 × 30 conservation biodiversity target.

Habitat-forming species are essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in marine benthic ecosystems, but their role in modulating community responses to environmental stressors across spatial and temporal scales remains underexplored. In the Mediterranean Sea, the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata forms structurally complex animal forests within coralligenous assemblages, able to enhance habitat heterogeneity. This study assessed the influence of P. clavata forests on the structure of coralligenous communities across five Mediterranean regions and two periods (summer and autumn), incorporating thermal (median temperature, temperature range, frequency and duration of heating events) and trophic (chlorophyll, pheophytins, carbohydrates, proteins, organic and inorganic suspended matters) environmental descriptors. Using Generalized Linear Latent Variable Models, we found that environmental variables—particularly temperature, organic matter, and trophic resource availability—strongly shaped coralligenous community structure. Forested sites exhibited a reduced abundance of opportunistic groups (e.g., turf algae, hydroids, perforating sponges) under conditions of elevated temperature and organic matter concentrations, highlighting the buffering role of P. clavata forests. However, under intense and prolonged thermal stress combined with high concentrations of carbohydrates and proteins, P. clavata itself showed increased necrosis, indicating limits to its resilience. Considering the regional and temporal scales, region emerged as the strongest predictor of community structure (explaining 45

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe under a warming and drying climate, with Mediterranean regions emerging as global hotspots of megafire activity whose impacts extend from upland catchments to coastal waters. Although the terrestrial effects of fire are well established, the mechanisms by which wildfire by products influence marine ecosystems remain poorly resolved. Here, we investigate whether and how a Mediterranean megafire (12,000 ha) altered post fire fluxes of nutrients, sediments properties, and combustion derived compounds, causing changes in coastal biogeochemistry and ecosystem responses across land–sea and depth gradients. Ash-derived runoff generated a transient pulse of macronutrients and organic matter (TP, TDN, DOC and Si), producing short lived increases in turbidity and chlorophyll a in coastal waters. Stable isotopes and C/N ratios in primary producers indicated enhanced nitrogen uptake from riverine inputs, with intertidal macroalgal forests—particularly Ericaria spp.—showing marked short-term recovery. In contrast, responses were minimal in seagrass Posidonia oceanica and geniculate coralline algae, and absent in both subtidal macroalgal communities and deep coralligenous habitats. Our results show that megafires can temporarily reconfigure land-sea nutrient fluxes generating short-lived increases in primary productivity in oligotrophic Mediterranean coasts. As wildfire activity intensifies under climate change, understanding land–sea connectivity will be essential for predicting cascading impacts on coastal ecosystem functioning.

Sponges commonly form associations within seagrass meadows, but their potential impact on seagrass productivity and nutrient cycles remains poorly understood. This study investigates the association between the demosponge Chondrilla nucula and the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica in two sampling occasions during the plant growth (spring) and senescence (autumn) seasons at a small inlet near Naples, Italy, where the sponge grows conspicuously within the seagrass bed. We found a non-linear relationship between the benthic cover of the sponge and the seagrass, with higher C. nucula cover linked to intermediate P. oceanica cover, suggesting spatial dependence. Posidonia oceanica showed higher net primary production (NPP) in spring, while C. nucula was net heterotrophic in spring but exhibited near zero metabolic balance in autumn. NPP remained stable when the two organisms were associated, regardless of the season. Chondrilla nucula consistently contributed inorganic nutrients to the association in the form of phosphate, ammonium, and substantial nitrate, recycling nutrients that potentially benefited P. oceanica in its growth season. In return, the seagrass released dissolved organic carbon in spring, which is consistent with supporting sponge heterotrophic nutrition. These findings suggest reciprocal benefits in the interaction between C. nucula and P. oceanica, with nutrient exchange facilitating a facultative mutualism that potentially supports and stabilizes the productivity of the seagrass ecosystem.

Cold-water corals (CWCs) are key ecosystem engineers in deep-sea habitats, yet their distribution in the Gulf of Naples remains poorly known. Here, we applied a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model with high-resolution environmental predictors to investigate the fine-scale suitability of scleractinian CWCs within the Gulf of Naples and adjacent areas. Presence records were derived from Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) video analyses, while predictors included bottom current velocity from a Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) simulation and geomorphological variables from multibeam bathymetry (bathymetric position index, slope, roughness, aspect, and backscatter). The model predicted ∼0.43 km2 of suitable habitat (suitability index >0.6) corresponding to 0.09 % of the entire study area, mainly along canyon walls and elevated seabed features of the Dohrn Canyon. Additional suitable areas were identified in the deeper canyon sectors and south of Ischia Island. Current velocity at the bottom influenced the most our model, with high suitability values obtained from 0.10 to 0.18 m/s, suggesting these as favorable conditions for sediment removal and food supply. The variable response curves documented that Bathymetric position index and roughness contributed to the model, with preferences for elevated seabed features and heterogeneous seafloor topography. These findings highlight the role of bottom current velocity and topographic complexity in shaping CWCs habitats in the study region and reveal unexplored areas with high potential for coral occurrence. Model outputs provide a scientific basis for Natura 2000 site designation and support conservation and restoration strategies for vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems in the area.

Marine algal forests are highly productive and biodiverse ecosystems yet increasingly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. To mitigate these pressures, identifying the drivers of macroalgal canopy decline is essential. This study examines seasonal variations in abundance and size structure of Ericaria crinita (Phaeophyta) and assesses its role in retaining marine litter. Along the Apulian coastline (Italy, Adriatic Sea), litter abundance and composition were analyzed across four habitats: vegetated low-shore rocky habitats with and without macroalgal canopies, and vegetated and unvegetated emerged beaches. E. crinita abundance remained stable across seasons, while size structure showed significant seasonal variation, with spring as the main growth period and summer as a dormancy phase. The vegetated beach exhibited the highest litter abundance (9.54 ± 0.59 items m-2), mainly originating from land-based sources, whereas the rocky shore without canopy was the least affected habitat. Sea-based litter was significantly more abundant in the rocky shore with canopy and the vegetated beach (2.62 ± 0.32 and 2.50 ± 0.37 items m-2, respectively), compared with the unvegetated beach (0.46 ± 0.14 items m-2) and the rocky shore without canopy (0.17 ± 0.08 items m-2). Recreational land-based activities are the primary source of litter on the beach, while fishing activities mainly impact macroalgal canopies. Dense canopies enhance the retention of larger litter items, as indicated by the positive correlation between large-size litter items and thallus length. The findings highlight the pervasive presence of marine litter and the need for targeted management strategies to mitigate its impacts on macroalgal forests.

Restoration of degraded marine and coastal areas is a priority set by European policy makers, as exemplified by the recent adoption of the European Nature Restoration Law (NRL) in June 2024. This legislation-driven approach is expected to expand the European marine restoration community rapidly as the amount of funding and projects grows to meet the targets outlined by the NRL However, it is difficult to assess the success of restoration activities which is vital to ensure the viability of upscaling. Furthermore, best practices are not well established in the marine realm and scientific networks are still in their early stages of development. Here, we outline our development of a digital, online toolbox for marine restoration in collaboration with the European restoration community. The toolbox aims to go beyond simply making data FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) through the creation of science-based digital services that allow for use of information for decision-making for marine restoration. The toolbox is constructed in a modular way to fulfil the needs of a diverse range of users across Europe and includes a centralized space to find methodological approaches, relevant networks, funding opportunities, and resources. The digital tools under development will be openly accessible through the Blue-Cloud 2026 platform within the thematic virtual research environment for marine restoration, which allows for the scalable use and reuse of data and code by any interested user. The toolbox aims to provide restoration community members science-based methods from which they can leverage and accelerate their restoration projects. In the pursuit to democratize access to best practices and knowledge, we go beyond providing code or data in static repositories. Based on our experience, we encourage others that are developing toolboxes or knowledge bases for diverse user groups to consider taking advantage of publicly funded infrastructure to promote their work according to open science practices.

Marine habitats in the Mediterranean Sea play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services, and climate resilience. However, they are facing escalating threats from anthropogenic pressures. This study, coordinated and financially supported by the Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) under the Barcelona Convention, presents an updated, harmonized assessment of the distribution and protection status of three iconic benthic habitats: Posidonia oceanica meadows, coralligenous assemblages, and marine caves. A standardized methodology was applied to compile, review, harmonize, and aggregate fine-scale data from regional databases, National Focal Points (NFPs), expert networks, and online repositories. Posidonia oceanica meadows were mapped over 22,379 km(2) across 15 Mediterranean countries, with 95% within territorial waters and 37% in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Coralligenous assemblages and ma & euml;rl beds covered 2,889.5 km(2) in 13 countries, in line with previous modelling estimates, with 67.1% located within MPAs, particularly in the central and western regions. Approximately 3,000 marine caves were identified across 15 countries, representing the first country-level spatial inventory of this habitat. Nearly 69% of known caves are located in MPAs, although lacking specific conservation measures. Despite significant progress, notable limitations remain. Data quality and availability are uneven across regions, and inconsistencies in classification, spatial resolution, and ecological descriptors-especially for coralligenous assemblages and marine cave typologies-limit detailed habitat representation. This study highlights persistent knowledge gaps in parts of North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and non-EU coastal states, and provides a robust baseline for conservation planning and supports regional monitoring efforts under the Barcelona Convention. Future priorities include addressing data gaps, standardizing classification systems, prioritizing sites for conservation and restoration to strengthen marine habitat protection and recovery and enhance the ecological effectiveness of MPAs.

Macroalgae are a cornucopia of bioactive molecules whose synthesis is modulated in response to environmental variables, allowing macroalgal adaptation and survival. Among these metabolites, polyphenols are worthy of attention because they may represent an informative archive of environmental conditions, given their involvement in several ecological and biochemical functions. This systematic review synthesized the literature from the last two decades on phenolic compounds in Mediterranean macroalgae, focusing on their functional roles, taxonomic distribution, geographical occurrence, and responses to abiotic and biotic stressors, with particular attention to their potential as 'early indicators' of environmental change. Using a Scopus-based search strategy, nearly 6000 records were screened and studies on brown, red, and green macroalgae published between 2003 and September 2025 across the Mediterranean basin were retained. The reviewed literature highlighted that polyphenols are widely involved in antioxidant defense, photoprotection, stress tolerance, and interspecific interactions, supporting the resilience of macroalgae in a rapidly changing Mediterranean Sea. At the same time, the review emphasizes the significant biotechnological potential of these compounds in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and agricultural sectors. Overall, the evidence indicates that fluctuations in polyphenol content often reflect rapid physiological responses to environmental stress, suggesting that these compounds may function as early indicators of ecological change in Mediterranean macroalgae. Despite growing evidence, several important gaps remain. Research from the eastern Mediterranean basin is still limited, most studies focus on only a few model genera, and long-term field studies examining multiple environmental stressors are rare. Future research should therefore include a wider range of geographic areas and species, adopt standardized analytical methods, and investigate how polyphenols respond to combined environmental drivers. This would help clarify and validate their use as early indicators of ecological change.

Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) is a commercially valuable species in the Mediterranean Sea, and the development of suitable feeds for juvenile rearing remains an important challenge for full-cycle aquaculture. In this study, we evaluated two experimental formulated diets containing anchovy-processing by-products and carrot peels as main ingredients, using a commercial diet as control. The diets were tested for 84 days on three size classes of P. lividus under controlled recirculating aquaculture conditions. Growth, feed intake, somatic growth rate, feed conversion ratio, gross apparent digestibility, and nitrogen assimilation were assessed. Our results demonstrated that both experimental diets could sustain the growth of sea urchins. However, growth varied significantly across diets and size classes and the two diets showed different results in terms of somatic growth rate and feed conversion ratio. Our findings suggest that eco-friendly feeds derived from industrial waste by-products can be used for sea urchin aquaculture. However, further research is needed to optimize feeding protocols and understand the underlying mechanisms affecting growth performance and feed assimilation efficiency. The utilization of food waste in aquaculture can contribute to the conservation of overexploited sea urchin stocks and promote sustainable practices in marine resource management.

In recent years, major technological advances have significantly improved our ability to assess the distribution and health status of marine habitats and their associated biodiversity. Yet, comprehensive overviews of how these innovations are being applied across public and private sectors remain scarce. One reason for this gap is partly due to still scarce interdisciplinary research and to the rapid pace of technological evolution, which often renders tools quickly obsolete, making it difficult for the scientific community to stay up to date. Also, despite their enormous potential, the high costs of advanced technologies still limit their accessibility and widespread use in marine monitoring. This review addresses these challenges by providing a comprehensive overview of the methodologies currently used to monitor and map marine biodiversity across diverse marine ecosystems, with a focus on technological developments from the last decade (2014-2024). By synthesizing approaches spanning marine robotics, remote sensing, and automated sensing systems, the review highlights both the expanding observational capabilities enabled by these tools and the limitations that hinder their effective operational uptake. By adopting an integrated and application-oriented perspective, this work aims to foster and pave the way for collaboration and knowledge exchange across disciplines and sectors, especially between ecologists, engineers, and stakeholders from private and public sectors, as well as to support the development of accessible, comparable, and actionable technological pathways for marine biodiversity monitoring and conservation.

Background Human activities are exerting increasing pressure on the ocean, threatening marine biodiversity and the many benefits it provides to people. Allocating adequate space to enable the sustainable and equitable use of the ocean resources, while ensuring cost-effective conservation and restoration of marine ecosystem is particularly challenging in light of ambitious global, regional, and national commitments, such as those established by the Global Biodiversity Framework. In this context, Systematic Conservation Planning (SCP) offers a robust framework to prioritize conservation actions that safeguard biodiversity while minimizing costs and facilitating dialogue among maritime sectors. Methodology The scoping review here assesses the challenges in SCP implementation and the obstacles preventing its adoption in guiding decision-making for the achievement of conservation objectives in harmony with human uses of marine resources. The 149 studies analysed, spanning from 2002 to early 2023, are distributed across all continents and encompass nine biogeographic realms. Results Our analysis shows that only a limited number of SCP-based spatial plans have been implemented and just one study explicitly demonstrated the attainment of conservation targets defined through the SCP process. Inadequate criteria for assessing plan effectiveness and weak linkages between academic research and management practice were identified as significant impediments to the effective implementation of SCP outcomes. Conclusions The review synthetizes context-specific recommendations, emphasizing that good practices vary across countries according to their geopolitical and economic settings, from small island developing states to middle- and high-income countries. Our study highlights that aligning SCP objectives with international policy frameworks is essential for addressing gaps in conservation and restoration planning and for embedding SCP within global governance processes.

This study investigated the annual dynamics of a macroalgal community inhabiting the rocky shores of Bacoli coast (Gulf of Pozzuoli, Italy) to assess differences in resource use and allocation among three dominant species sharing the same habitat: Dictyota spiralis Montagne, 1846, Cladophora prolifera (Roth) Kützing, 1843, and Jania pedunculata var. adhaerens (J.V.Lamouroux). The community was monitored over one year, considering species composition and key ecological attributes, including photosynthetic efficiency, pigment and carbohydrate concentration, specific thallus area and dry matter content, and antioxidant production. Algal coverage varied, with D. spiralis dominating in spring and C. prolifera and J. pedunculata in summer and autumn. The highest photosynthetic activity was measured in C. prolifera. None of the three species showed signs of stress across sampling dates. C. prolifera and J. pedunculata, characterized by higher thallus dry matter content and lower specific area, exhibited a resource-conserving strategy, allocating more carbon to structural biomass. Conversely, the greater thallus area and tannin concentration in D. spiralis indicated preferential investment in photosynthetic tissues and chemical defenses, consistent with a growth-oriented strategy. Elevated summer temperatures and irradiance were associated with reduced antioxidant activity in all species, suggesting physiological adjustments to changing environmental conditions. Overall, these findings demonstrate species-specific optimization of the trade-off between the photosynthetic performance and allocation of resources to defense. The rapid responses to seasonal fluctuations highlight local adaptation processes affecting macroalgal ecological dynamics in this coastal habitat and provide a valuable baseline for assessing species-specific sensitivity and resilience to environmental change, supporting future investigations and practical applications.

In the Mediterranean Sea, climate change is affecting key species like the seagrass Posidonia oceanica. Discoloration of P. oceanica leaves still attached to the shoots (bleaching hereafter) has been recently observed in warm locations, but whether this phenomenon is an adaptative strategy or a symptom of stress remained unknown. This study assessed the temporal evolution of P. oceanica bleaching in Konnos Bay (Cyprus) and its potential of recovery from summer to autumn 2024, along a bathymetric gradient and from a morphological and physiological perspective. The bleached area, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were used as response variables, and temperature was considered as a potential driver. P. oceanica bleaching occurred along the entire bathymetric gradient, albeit delayed in time at deeper depths. Leaves' chlorophyll and carotenoid contents showed a mirror-like pattern in time compared to the bleached leaf area at all depths. Correlative analyses demonstrated that the maximum daily temperature was positively related to the bleached area and negatively related to photopigment contents. However, an important result was highlighted by the increase of the total leaf area with high values of temperature, suggesting that the productivity of the plant can be compensated after the loss of leaf area due to bleaching. Values of bleached leaf area decreased in time with the decrease in temperature at all depths, indicating a high potential of recovery of the meadow. Results of this study provide novel information on an understudied phenomenon that occurs in P. oceanica.

Seagrasses are vulnerable to climate change, although photoprotective mechanisms through photopigment rearrangement, have been detected to avoid photoinhibition and photooxidative stress at high temperatures. Posidonia oceanica, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, is not an exception. Leaf bleaching has been associated to temperature but how it affects seagrass viability is still unknown. Through a depth-cross-transplantation experiment in Cyprus, we explored the role of temperature and irradiance in determining bleaching onset and analyzed changes in photopigments after transplantation. Unexpectedly, after three months, leaf bleaching did not increase in plants transplanted to a different depth from the origin (e.g. from -10 to -30). Rather, higher bleaching was found when cuttings were kept at their origin depth (i.e. -10m), likely indicating that light and temperature are not the main drivers of this phenomenon. Photopigment rearrangement at different light and temperature conditions suggested that usual photoprotective mechanisms, used by the plant to respond to environmental stressors, are preserved despite the presence of bleaching. Understanding this phenomenon has become pivotal to predict the performance of P. oceanica in a changing Mediterranean Sea.

Effective biodiversity monitoring and management play a key role in understanding ecosystems, especially in the light of increasing environmental challenges and biodiversity loss. Traditional monitoring methods often face limitations in terms of spatial and temporal coverage, efficiency, and ability to identify cryptic or rare species. Fortunately, technological advancements are enabling the collection of a new generation of ecological data, with the application of these technologies in biodiversity conservation being a rapidly growing area. Key technological approaches include molecular techniques such as environmental DNA (eDNA), metabarcoding, and genomics for non-invasive genetic assessments. Remote sensing, from satellites and airborne platforms to LiDAR, RADAR, and sonar, enables large-scale habitat and environmental monitoring. Robotic systems, including autonomous and hybrid platforms, extend access coverage of remote areas by carrying sensors and sampling tools. AI and machine learning enhance data analysis and computer vision, while automated sensor networks and animal tracking technologies provide continuous insights into ecosystem dynamics and species behavior. This meta-review synthesizes findings from diverse research efforts, highlighting how emerging technologies are reshaping biodiversity monitoring. These tools offer greater efficiency, lower deployment costs, and adaptability to varied ecological contexts compared to traditional methods. However, the literature also underlines significant challenges that remain unresolved. Despite these hurdles, the field appears poised for major breakthroughs that could transform how we monitor and protect biodiversity. Realizing these opportunities will depend on continued investment in research and technology development.

Banks are ecologically relevant seafloor structures recognized as biodiversity hotspots, covering a wide range of depths in several geological contexts and encompassing heterogeneous habitat types and benthic assemblages. They support vulnerable species and habitats of conservation interest, including coralligenous outcrops that are well known as nursery areas for several species, including commercial fish species, and as carbon-flow regulating regions. The vulnerability of this habitat, characterized by species with slow growth rates, long recovery periods and exposed to multiple anthropogenic pressures, makes the implementation of appropriate conservation and management measures an urgent priority. The present work aimed to investigate: the diversity and patterns of distribution of this benthic habitat, with a focus on habitat-forming species, together with the abundance and composition of benthic litter of a protected Mediterranean bank at several depth ranges. Overall, ROV video analyses highlighted the presence of 73 taxa, including species of high biological interest protected by international conventions, and provided evidence of the presence of invasive species in the investigated bank, such as the native polychaete Hermodice carunculata and the non-indigenous seaweed Caulerpa cylindracea. Coralligenous outcrops are impacted by anthropogenic marine litter, confirming the exploitation of the bank as a fishing area. All marine litter was represented by artificial polymer materials, consisting of Abandoned, Lost or otherwise Discarded Fishing Gears (ALDFGs). The contextual high abundance of ALDFGs and the low abundance of erect habitat-forming species observed in the deep waters document a long history of mechanical disturbance caused by both operating and lost demersal fishing gears. This study represents an integrative baseline of information for the implemented Special Area of Conservation (SAC) "Secca di Amendolara" and the recently instituted homonymous regional marine park, showing the importance of fine scale data to support management measures aimed at increasing the effectiveness of ongoing conservation plans.

Marine animal forests, composed of sessile suspension feeders such as gorgonians are known to host rich communities that support important ecosystem functions and services. These habitats are undergoing severe loss due to multiple pressures, with potential cascading effects on associated communities and their functions that remain poorly understood. To address this critical knowledge gap, we used fine-scale data to assess the role of Paramuricea clavata forests in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning at multiple locations, in the Gulf of Naples (Italy, Western Mediterranean Sea). Through functional trait analysis, we compared taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic assemblages inside and outside P. clavata forests and investigated the loss of traits as a consequence of forest loss. Analyses revealed significant enhancements in both taxonomic and functional diversity within P. clavata forests, with observed increased species and functional richness. Trait-based investigations revealed a higher abundance of colonial heterotrophic species within forests, while outside, assemblages were dominated by low-longevity autotrophs, suggesting that P. clavata modifies environmental variables creating unique ecological conditions that favor specific traits. β-diversity measurements demonstrated increased compositional and functional turnover inside forests, indicating that P. clavata provides more available niches, supporting the replacement of species and functions. Our findings offer insights into how marine animal forests can structure marine communities, with broader implications for understanding biodiversity loss in changing marine ecosystems.