Coral gardens are considered to be hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, due to the important structural and biogeochemical role of cold-water coral (CWC) species. Despite the importance of CWCs as habitat forming and mediating species in bentho-pelagic coupling processes, our understanding on their biology and ecophysiology is still very limited. Moreover, despite an increase in studies on deep reef-forming species, information on cold-water octocoral and antipatharian species is still very scarce. The present study aims at determining aspects of the feeding biology of two common indicators of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) in the Azores Archipelago: the gorgonian Dentomuricea aff. meteor and the antipatharian Antipathella wollastoni. By using controlled experiments in aquaria, we aim at determining the feeding preferences and assimilation efficiencies of the target species upon availability of live phytoplankton, live zooplankton and dissolved organic matter. Study methods will include measurements of capture rates, incorporation of stable isotopes and analysis of fatty acids. The study will provide new insights to the feeding biology and organic carbon requirements of the target species while the produced data will contribute to the development of innovative spatial models predicting distribution and habitat suitability of cold-water corals

Coral gardens are considered to be hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, due to the important structural and biogeochemical role of cold-water coral (CWC) species. Despite the importance of CWCs as habitat forming and mediating species in bentho-pelagic coupling processes, our understanding on their biology and ecophysiology is still very limited. Moreover, despite an increase in studies on deep reef-forming species, information on cold-water octocoral and antipatharian species is still very scarce. The present study aims at determining aspects of the feeding biology of two common indicators of Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) in the Azores Archipelago: the gorgonian Dentomuricea aff. meteor and the antipatharian Antipathella wollastoni. By using controlled experiments in aquaria, we aim at determining the feeding preferences and assimilation efficiencies of the target species upon availability of live phytoplankton, live zooplankton and dissolved organic matter. Study methods will include measurements of capture rates, incorporation of stable isotopes and analysis of fatty acids. The study will provide new insights to the feeding biology and organic carbon requirements of the target species while the produced data will contribute to the development of innovative spatial models predicting distribution and habitat suitability of cold-water corals

Special issue The wrapping up of the IDEADOS project: International Workshop on Environment, Ecosystems and Demersal Resources, and Fisheries.-- 11 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables.-- Corrigendum to “Structure and dynamics of food webs in the water column on shelf and slope grounds of the western Mediterranean” [J. Mar. Syst. 138 (2014) 171–181], Journal of Marine Systems 139: 505–508 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.09.005 | Benthic-pelagic coupling is an important process connecting species throughout the water column, particularly, in deep-sea systems where faunal assemblages can be dense if indirectly sustained by production from the above. Through stable isotope analyses, this study explored the sources of production, trophic structure, and bentho-pelagic coupling in two locations with contrasting oceanographic conditions from the western Mediterranean, in the Balearic (BsB) and the Algerian (AsB) sub-basins. The samples of 89 dominant species (23 decapods, 19 cephalopods, 33 fishes, among the other taxa), inhabiting the hyperbenthic and pelagic domains, from the shelf break (250m), upper slope (650m), and middle slope (850m) were analyzed. Results suggested long food webs of approximately four trophic levels (TrLs) that were sustained by planktonic source material in shallower waters and degraded particulate organic matter of planktonic origin in deeper waters. Most of the collected species (70%) occupied intermediate trophic positions between the 3rd and 4th TrLs. The species δ15N and δ13C values exhibited a broad range, consistent with the high diversity that might be attributed to the oligotrophic conditions. As the depth increased, stronger segregation occurred between the trophic groups, and spatial differences were found among consumers of the two locations. Species in the AsB always had consistently higher δ15N values than in the BsB, which could possibly be attributed to the basal δ15N that was present through the food web. Despite the contrasting basin characteristics, a similarly close bentho-pelagic coupling pattern was observed at both locations, except at the deepest ground, especially at the AsB, where the mean δ13C values from the hyperbenthic and pelagic compartments were more distant. This could be related to the higher degree of reworking of organic matter in the AsB. Overall, these findings suggested the need for a depth-stratified approach to analyze deep-sea food webs in the study site in future studies. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. | This research was supported by the project CTM2008-04489-C03-01 and CTM2008-04489-C03-02. The isotope analyses were funded by the Government of the Balearic Islands, Acció especial: AAEE0138/09 (DireccióGeneral de Recerca, Desenvolupament Tecnològic i Innovació, Conselleria d'Economia Hisenda i Innovació) | Peer Reviewed

Benthic–pelagic coupling is an important process connecting species throughout the water column, particularly,in deep-sea systemswhere faunal assemblages can be dense if indirectly sustained by production fromthe above.Through stable isotope analyses, this study explored the sources of production, trophic structure, and benthopelagiccoupling in two locations with contrasting oceanographic conditions from the western Mediterranean,in the Balearic (BsB) and the Algerian (AsB) sub-basins. The samples of 89 dominant species (23 decapods, 19cephalopods, 33 fishes, among the other taxa), inhabiting the hyperbenthic and pelagic domains, from theshelf break (250 m), upper slope (650 m), and middle slope (850 m) were analyzed. Results suggested longfood webs of approximately four trophic levels (TrLs) that were sustained by planktonic source material inshallowerwaters and degraded particulate organic matter of planktonic origin in deeperwaters.Most of the collectedspecies (70%) occupied intermediate trophic positions between the 3rd and 4th TrLs. The species δ15Nandδ13C values exhibited a broad range, consistent with the high diversity that might be attributed to the oligotrophicconditions. As the depth increased, stronger segregation occurred between the trophic groups, and spatialdifferenceswere found among consumers of the two locations. Species in the AsB always had consistently higherδ15N values than in the BsB, which could possibly be attributed to the basal δ15N that was present through thefoodweb. Despite the contrasting basin characteristics, a similarly close bentho-pelagic coupling pattern was observedat both locations, except at the deepest ground, especially at the AsB,where themean δ13Cvalues fromthehyperbenthic and pelagic compartments were more distant. This could be related to the higher degree ofreworking of organicmatter in the AsB. Overall, these findings suggested the need for a depth-stratified approachto analyze deep-sea food webs in the study site in future studies | Versión del editor

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The effects of several food items on larvae production and survival ofthe mysid Mysidopsis almyra were compared. A total of sixdiets were used. The diets were: 1) phytoplankton (Isochrysisgalbana), 2) an artificial diet (Liqualife®, Cargill,Minneapolis, MN), 3) a mixed diet composed of both zooplankton (mostlycopepods)and phytoplankton, 4) 750 mg g−1 of HUFA enrichedArtemia nauplii and 250 mgg−1 of the artificial diet, 5) newly hatchedArtemia nauplii (24-hour incubation at 28°C) and 6) newly hatched Artemia naupliienriched with HUFA (SELCO®, INVE Inc., Ghent, Belgium) for 12 hours. Mysidsfed HUFA enriched Artemia nauplii (diet 6) had the highestproduction and survival rates, although not significant (P > 0.05), comparedto diets 3, 4 and 5, while the phytoplankton and the artificial diet hadsignificantly lower production and survival rates (p > 0.05). | Sí

The capture efficiency and feeding behaviour of the cold-water coral (CWC) Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus, 1758) were investigated considering: (1) different food types, (2) different food sizes and (3) different current speeds and temperatures. This study used two different multifactorial experimental approaches: (1) Corals were subjected to three different flow speeds (2, 5 and 10 cm s− 1) in 5 l volume tanks, and three different food types (alive zooplankton, alive algae, and dry particulate organic carbon) were offered to the corals under each current regime, analysing the capture rates of the corals under these different flow velocities. (2) In a flume, the feeding behaviour of the coral polyps was studied under different current speed regimes (1, 7, 15 and 27 cm s− 1) and a temperature change over a range of 8–12 °C. The obtained results confirm that low flow speeds (below 7 cm s− 1) appear optimal for a successful prey capture, and temperature did not have an effect on polyp expansion behaviour for L. pertusa. In conclusion, flow speeds clearly impact food capture efficiency in L. pertusa, with zooplankton predominantly captured prey at low flow velocities (2 cm s− 1) and phytoplankton captured at higher flow velocities of 5 cm s− 1. This split in capture efficiency may allow corals to exploit different food sources under different tidal and flow conditions | Versión del editor | 2,2630