M. Mistri et Vu. Ceccherelli, GROWTH AND SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN GORGONIAN PARAMURICEA-CLAVATA, Marine ecology. Progress series, 103(3), 1994, pp. 291-296
Growth and secondary production of the shallow-water gorgonian Paramur
icea clavata (Risso, 1826) were investigated at an infralittoral rocky
station located at the northern entrance of the Strait of Messina (Ty
rrhenian Sea, southern Italy). Colonies were aged by counting the numb
er of annual growth rings at the base of the skeleton. Mean annual lin
ear growth rates were calculated both by field measurements (tagging)
and by fitting a Bertalanffy growth equation for the species. Growth r
ates were 2.7 and 3.0 cm yr(-1) respectively. Secondary production was
estimated by means of an increment-summation method. The estimate was
quite conservative, because it did not take into account production l
ost by nonlethal predation, and yielded 3.0 g ash-free dry weight (AFD
W) m(-2) yr(-1). Standing stock biomass was 22.5 g AFDW m(-2). Annual
P/B ratio was 0.13, and turnover time 7.5 yr.