TY - JOUR AU - Marletta, Giuliana AU - Lombardo, Andrea PY - 2020/10/25 Y2 - 2024/03/19 TI - Assessment of grazing impact on deep canopy-forming species in the western Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean JF - International Journal of Aquatic Biology JA - Intl. J. Aquat. Biol. VL - 8 IS - 5 SE - Articles DO - 10.22034/ijab.v8i5.882 UR - https://ij-aquaticbiology.com/index.php/ijab/article/view/882 SP - 365-376 AB - <p>Marine forests are experiencing a severe decline in many Mediterranean areas. One of the major causes of the loss of the canopy-forming species is the overgrazing by herbivorous fishes. In the present study, the status of <em>Treptacantha ballesterosii</em> and <em>Carpodesmia zosteroides </em>populations was checked in two areas located along the central-eastern sector of Sicily. In addition, impact of herbivorous fishes, native or alien, on canopy-forming species was realized during monitoring of fish communities. It was observed that <em>T. ballesterosii</em> and <em>C. zosteroides</em> populations are in regression, particularly <em>T. ballesterosii</em>. Probably, the growth of this latter species may be limited by a strong herbivores' pressure. During the monitoring period, the highest number of fish species has been observed at the depths where there are <em>T. ballesterosii</em> thalli. Moreover, an expansion of <em>Sparisoma cretense</em> populations has been observed that seems to be more competitive than the other herbivorous fish <em>Sarpa salpa</em>. Furthermore, the parrotfish has been observed several times in the bathymetric range where there is <em>T. ballesterosii</em>. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that in these areas the herbivorous fish which mostly hinder the development and growth of <em>T. ballesterosii</em> is <em>S. cretense</em>.</p> ER -