Coralligenous communities linked to diapiric processes from the Spanish shelf of the Gulf of Cádiz

Abstract

The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an important area of seepage activity and of biological diversity due to the tectonic activity and subsoil fluid mobility, as well as the confluence of Atlantic and Mediterranean water masses and organisms from both basins. Some circalittoral and bathyal areas of the GoC remain still unexplored and they could harbour interesting communities and species that may deserve protection. In summer 2013, a geological expedition carried out between San Fernando and Conil de la Frontera, at water depths between 40 and 55 m and 10 M from Cádiz detected complex coralligenous communities that may be linked to diapiric processes. These communities represent a well preserved 1170 habitat type (Reefs) of the Habitat Directive and also contain ca. 20 spp. of invertebrates that are included in European, National and Local (Andalusian) threatened species lists. The area should be included in the Natura 2000 network as it represents one of the few circalittoral coralligenous communities from Spanish waters of the GoC.