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ALEXANDRE MEINESZ

Coralligenous Habitat

In Dive.Explo360: Mediterranean

On a dive along a dimly lit drop-off, a coralligenous build-up reveals a spectacular landscape covered with sponges, gorgonians and cavities. A true refuge for Mediterranean wildlife, this habitat takes decades to build and reflects a preserved marine environment.

Habitat de Coralligenous Habitat Habitat
Rocky habitat, Coralligenous habitat
Profondeur de Coralligenous Habitat Depth
30-100 m
Groupe biologique de Coralligenous Habitat Group
Red alga
Rôle écologique de Coralligenous Habitat Role
Primary producer, Ecosystem engineer

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Coralligenous habitat is a complex marine habitat often described as a “living rock”. It forms through the gradual accumulation of calcareous algae that build a hard, irregular structure over time.This community shelters a wide variety of organisms: algae, sponges, gorgonians, bryozoans and molluscs. Its structure, made of successive layers, is fragile and develops very slowly.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

Coralligenous habitat mainly develops on rocky seabeds or hard underwater features in low-light areas. It generally occurs from a few tens of metres deep and can extend well below a hundred metres.It takes different forms: on vertical walls, beneath overhangs or as thick structures on more horizontal seabeds.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

Coralligenous habitat is not a single organism but a collection of species. The algae that build it obtain energy from light, while many animals living there feed on particles or small organisms in the water.This habitat therefore functions through a combination of plant production and food capture by its animals.

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