M. Mistri, POPULATION-STRUCTURE AND SECONDARY PRODUCTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN OCTOCORAL LOPHOGORGIA-CERATOPHYTA (L.1758), Marine ecology, 16(3), 1995, pp. 181-188
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.