Investigation of hard-bottom habitats (Anthozoa and their taxonomy) in Boka Kotorska Bay Final report MONTENEGRO MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM Author: Egidio Trainito Editing: Cover design: swim2birds.co.uk Graphic design: Ljudomat Cover photos: Clockwise from top left Savalia savaglia, Polycyathus muellerae, Leptogorgia sarmentosa, Spinimuricea klavereni (Egidio Trainito) This study is prepared within the GEF Adriatic Project and supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). For bibliographical purposes this document may be cited as: UNEP/MAP-PAP/RAC-SPA/RAC and MSDT (2019). Investigation of hard bottom habitats with special attention given to Anthozoa and their taxonomy in Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro. By: Egidio Trainito. Ed: PAP/RAC – GEF Adriatic project. 67pp Acknowledgments The author of this report wishes to thank first the researchers the IBM of Kotor that collaborated to the design and the realization of the monitoring and the laboratory activities: Vesna Mačić, Slavica Petović and Nikola Đorđević. Particular thanks are debt to: Brano Lazarević and Pina Contis for the support in diving activities and terrestrial documentation; Francesca Riolo and Rossella Baldacconi for the help in the determination of Scleractinia samples; Martina Canessa for the discussion and help on GES indexes and on MAES Index. Investigation of hard-bottom habitats (Anthozoa and their taxonomy) in Boka Kotorska Bay Table of contents 1 Framework ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Scope of the work ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Study area ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Coralligenous Communities: A Clarification on Definitions ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 3 Methods .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 Literature ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.2 Field work ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 3.3 Laboratory work ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 3.4 Photography and video rendering ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 3.5 Methodology for GES assessment ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 4 Field Work Results ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 4.1 Drazin vrt ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1.1 Geographical and operational framework ................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 4.1.2 Megabenthic assemblages ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 4.1.3 Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18 4.1.4 Debris ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19 4.1.5 MAES index ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 4.2 Sopot .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 4.2.1 Geographical and operational framework ................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 4.2.2 Megabenthic assemblages ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 4.2.3 Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 4.2.4 Debris ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 30 4.2.5 MAES index ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34 4.3 Turski rt ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 4.3.1 Geographical and operational framework ................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 4.3.2 Megabethic assemblages .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 4.3.3 Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 42 4.3.4 Debris ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43 4.3.5 MAES Index ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47 5 Laboratory Work Results ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 48 5.1 Scleractinia .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 48 5.2 Spinimuricea klavereni ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 52 5.3 Alcyonium palmatum ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................