3ème Symposium Méditerranéen sur la conservation du Coralligène at autres Bio-Concrétions

(Antalya, Turquie, 15-16 janvier 2019)

Cyrine BOUAFIF, TORCHIA G., ABIDI A., TRAINITO E., DRAGAN M.,
TRONCONI D., BERUTTI P., SGHAIER Y.R., OUERGHI A., GUELLOUZ S.,
RAIS C., LANGAR H.
Université de Tunis El Manar, UR17ES10, Département de Biologie,Faculté des Sciences
de Tunis, 2092 Tunis, Tunisie
E-mail: bouafif.cyrine@gmail.com

CAP NEGRO-CAP SERRAT (TUNISIA, MEDITERRANEAN):

A MARINE AREA WITH ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES
OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL INTEREST

Abstract
The marine habitats of the future Marine and Coastal Protected Area (MCPA) of Cap Negro-Cap
Serrat were investigated during 2015 -2016 within the framework of the MedKeyHabitats project
to elaborate maps of the main assemblages and bottom types between 0 and 50 m in order to
provide the APAL with a tool to better manage the site. The habitats and species distribution were
defined based on a geophysical survey and biological studies. A monitoring network of the
coralligenous biocenoses was also set-up in the study area to evaluate and track their
conservation status and detect changes associated to human pressures and natural processes.
The main marine key habitats of conservation interest present in the area are Posidonia oceanica
meadows and Coralligenous biocenosis hosting two main facies: Eunicella singularis - Flabellia
petiolata and Eunicella cavolini - Leptogorgia sarmentosa. About 37% (17.89 km²) of the total
surface area (47.79 km²) surveyed were covered by coralligenous biocenosis including
coralligenous platforms, mosaic of coralligenous on rocky bottoms and bio-concretion
assemblages. All priority habitats cover an area of almost 30 km². A total of 18 benthic species
that are protected or considered as key species of priority habitats were found in the site. The
exceptional extension of the Coralligenous Platforms is one of the main particularities of this
area, which is characterized by strong currents that seem to play a key role in conditioning the
environment: High presence of gorgonians; ripple marks on detritic bottoms; erosion at the base
of the coralligenous platforms.

Key-words: Cartography, Monitoring network, Coralligenous platforms, priority habitats,

Tunisia.

Introduction
The candidate Marine and Coastal Protected Area (MCPA) of Cap Negro-Cap Serrat is
located in the North-West coast of Tunisia and ranges from the shoreline to the isobath
of -100 m. This study is part of the "MedKeyHabitats" project, it aims at improving the
knowledge about the distribution of key marine habitats and on seabed types in this area
between 0 and -50 m.

Materials and methods

In 2015 and 2016, a geophysical survey, using aSide Scan Sonar (EdgeTech 4125) and a
single beam echo-sounder (Odom Echotrack) was undertaken. It was supported by a
biological survey (ground truthing) including an underwater video survey along transects
(Mini ROV, towed camera and GoPro), macrobenthos sampling with Van Veen grab,
scuba diving surveys and fish visual census. A monitoring network of the coralligenous
assemblages was set-up according to Garrabou et al. (2014).

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3ème Symposium Méditerranéen sur la conservation du Coralligène at autres Bio-Concrétions
(Antalya, Turquie, 15-16 janvier 2019)

Results
The main marine key habitats of conservation interest present in the area are Posidonia
oceanica meadows and Coralligenous biocenosis hosting mainly facies with Eunicella
singularis and Flabellia petiolata; facies with Eunicella cavolini and Leptogorgia
sarmentosa. About 37 % (17.89 km²) of the total surface area prospected (47.79 km²) are
covered by coralligenous biocenosis including coralligenous platforms, mosaic of
coralligenous on rocky bottoms and bio-concretion assemblages (Fig. 1). The priority habitats
cover a surface area of almost 30 km². A total of 18 benthic species that are protected or
considered as key species of priority habitats were found: six species listed in the Appendix
II of the SPA / BD Protocol, eight species listed in the Appendix II of CITES; three key
species of priority habitats and three species included in the Annex III of the SPA/ BD
Protocol. Two species, considered very rare in the whole Mediterranean, have been observed
for the first time along the North African coast: Felimare gasconi (Gastropoda,
Nudibranchia) and Cervera atlantica (Cnidaria, Stolonifera). The cryptogenic coral Oculina
patagonica (Cnidaria, Scleractinia), whose expansion is attributed to global warming, has
been observed in three stations. The Sarato's goby Gobius fallax, found only in Central East
Atlantic, North Mediterranean and Black Sea, was found in the area, which constitutes a first
record of the species in the Southern Mediterranean.
The exceptional extension of Coralligenous Platforms is one of the main particularities
of this area, which is characterized by strong currents that seem to play a key role in
shaping the seabed and the environmental conditions.

Fig. 1: The biocenotic map of the Cap Negro-Cap Serrat

Conclusion
The present study has widely contributed to fill the gap in the knowledge of the
distribution of the most important benthic biocenoses in the Cap Negro-Cap Serrat
MCPA. The techniques used have proven effective tools for habitat mapping and useful
support for the implementation of protection and management measures in the area.

Bibliography
RAC/SPA -UNEP/MAP (2014) - Monitoring Protocol for Reefs -Coralligenous Community. By
Garrabou J, Kipson S, Kaleb S, Kruzic P, Jaklin A, Zuljevic A, Rajkovic Z, Rodic P, Jelic K,
and Zupan D. Ed. RAC/SPA-MedMPAnet Project, Tunis. 35 pp. + annexes.

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