ECOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON A POPULATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN GORGONIAN PARAMURICEA-CLAVATA (RISSO, 1826)

The gorgonian Paramuricea clavata grows below 29 m water depth in 2 st ation located at the northern entrance of the Strait of Messina. Colon ies are randomly spaced, and show an abrupt change in orientation belo w 36 m depth. A turbulence zone caused by the current flowing downslop e along the bottom is likely to be the main factor responsible for the 90-degrees change in orientation. The relationship between growth and development of a fan was investigated in terms of change of fractal d imension. The latter gradually evolves in complexity with age, suggest ing that 2 high fractality could set a limit to the life span of the s pecies.