"> SCIENTIFIC PAPER: “Preliminary data on ostracods and foraminifers living on coralligenous bioconstructions Offshore Marzamemi (Ionian Sea, Se Sicily)”

Francesco Sciuto, Carla Altieri, Daniela Basso, Francesco D’Alpa, Gemma Donato, Valentina Alice Bracchi, Mara Cipriani, Adriano Guido, Antonietta Rosso, Rossana Sanfilippo, Donatella Serio, Alfio Viola

!! SCIENTIFIC PAPER IN Revue de micropaleontologie !!

!! The present study aims to be the first attempt to analyze the composition and structure of microfaunas associated with bioconstructions in an area located along the Ionian coast of south-eastern Sicily off the coast of Marzamemi (SR, Italy). At the bottom of the circalittoral area of the Mediterranean Sea, predominantly calcareous algae and subordinately bryozoans, sponges and serpulids give rise to bioconstructions called Coralligeno (algal barrier). The coral reef represents a hot-spot of biodiversity on the seabed. The samples were taken between 33 and 37 meters deep using a sorbone. Ostracods and foraminifera do not participate in the construction of the coralligenous but significantly increase the degree of biodiversity. !!

Keywords: Algal bioconstruction, Ostracoda, Foraminifera, Ionian Sea, Sicily (SE)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revmic.2023.100711

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0035159823000016