Prof. Dr. Nur Eda TOPÇU ERYALÇIN, Türkei
Info
Spinimuricea klavereni (Karpine and Grasshoff, 1975) is described in many sources as a living species endemic to the Mediterranean.
We owe Prof. Dr. Nur Eda Topçu Eryalçin, the leading specialist for Sinimuricea ,through her research in the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, for confirming the presence of the gorgonian in relatively shallow water zones:
Six colonies have been studied at depths of 25-38 metres, other colonies in Spain at 23-45 metres.
The deepest evidence of the gorgonian in the Mediterranean was 130 metres.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species indicates a maximum depth of 1000 metres.
The investigated Spinimuricea klavereni colonies were long and elegant, white, unbranched or showed very few branched branches.
Habitat: on rocky soils and on stone/shells on muddy soils, on rocky outcrops
Notes on water temperature:
In the Sea of Marmara, temperature differences are very small below 20 m, and the temperature is generally around 15°C. Therefore, gorgonians do not risk mortality events due to thermal stress as in the Mediterranean Sea
Since Spinimuricea klavereni is a less common coral, areas such as the Sea of Marmara should be particularly protected.
Synonym: Echinomuricea klavereni Carpine & Grasshoff, 1975
We owe Prof. Dr. Nur Eda Topçu Eryalçin, the leading specialist for Sinimuricea ,through her research in the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, for confirming the presence of the gorgonian in relatively shallow water zones:
Six colonies have been studied at depths of 25-38 metres, other colonies in Spain at 23-45 metres.
The deepest evidence of the gorgonian in the Mediterranean was 130 metres.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species indicates a maximum depth of 1000 metres.
The investigated Spinimuricea klavereni colonies were long and elegant, white, unbranched or showed very few branched branches.
Habitat: on rocky soils and on stone/shells on muddy soils, on rocky outcrops
Notes on water temperature:
In the Sea of Marmara, temperature differences are very small below 20 m, and the temperature is generally around 15°C. Therefore, gorgonians do not risk mortality events due to thermal stress as in the Mediterranean Sea
Since Spinimuricea klavereni is a less common coral, areas such as the Sea of Marmara should be particularly protected.
Synonym: Echinomuricea klavereni Carpine & Grasshoff, 1975
