Journal
HYDROBIOLOGIA
Volume 784, Issue 1, Pages 211-224Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10750-016-2875-7
Keywords
Red coral; Management; Tunisia; Population genetics; Connectivity; Colony size
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Funding
- Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Institution for Agricultural Research and Higher Education
- National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies
- PRIN project on Coastal bioconstructions: structure, function and management
- Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare
- Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali
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The precious octocoral Corallium rubrum has a long history of exploitation in the Mediterranean Sea. Historically, harvesting followed the boom and bust cycles whereby newly discovered beds were overexploited to depletion. In the past, most of the red coral harvesting came form France, Italy, and Spain. Today, landing data show that Tunisia is the third largest supplier of C. rubrum. The aim of this study was to asses whether and how the exploitation effort affects size distribution and genetic diversity of Tunisian commercial populations. Biometric data and microsatellite markers were used to characterize 113 colonies collected on nine commercial banks. Size and branching pattern indicate that collected colonies are up to 100 years old with a high reproductive rate. Nevertheless, 38% of the colonies were undersized according to FAO-GFCM recommendations (basal diameter < 7 mm). Tunisian populations showed a weak genetic structuring and significant differentiation between coastal and offshore populations. Harvesting did not alter the structure of red coral populations. However, technological improvement and intensive harvesting of Tunisian banks, if not properly managed, may lead to their rapid depletion, causing long-lasting shifts in population demography and genetic structure, and the loss of this valuable resource.
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