COMPARATIVE MORPHOMETRY OF FAN LIKE COLONIES OF 3 MEDITERRANEAN GORGONIANS (CNIDARIA, GORGONACEA)

The aim of the present study was to quantify the variation of the colo ny structure of the three abundant mediterranean gorgonians Eunicella singularis, E. cavolini and Lophogorgia ceratophyta (Coelenterata: Oct ocorallia). Only one growth form, i.e. fan-like colonies, was chosen, as this facilitated the comparison between species. Moreover, fan-like colonies are abundant at the study sites and a method is available fo r the precise determination of colony size. Comparing branching and,gr owth patterns by the correlation between architectural features and fa n size, both Eunicella species were different from L. ceratophyta prob ably as a result of the taxonomic differences between the two genera. On comparison of the mean values of architectural features, E. cavolin i showed more similarity with L. ceratophyta than with E. singularis i ndicating functional similarity between E. cavolini and L. ceratophyta . Architectural features as defined in this study might be useful for studying inter- and intraspecific variations of colony structure in go rgonian corals.