POPULATION-STRUCTURE AND SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN OCTOCORAL LOPHOGORGIA-CERATOPHYTA (L.1758)

The gorgonian Lophogorgia ceratophyta thrives in turbid water at Tinet to Rock, La Spezia Gulf, Ligurian Sea. Its age structure suggests that the population is in a steady state; nevertheless, it is difficult to discern whether the main factors controlling this population are biol ogical or event-related. Secondary production was estimated by means o f an increment-summation method and yielded 0.54 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW). m(-2). a(-1). This estimate does not take into account biomas s losses due to reproductive output and non-lethal predation. Standing stock biomass was 5.44 g AFDW . m(-2). The annual P/B ratio was 0.10, and turnover time about 10 a.