SPONGES ASSOCIATED WITH WHITE CORALS FROM THE DEEP EASTERN LIGURIAN SEA

Cold-water coral (CWC) reefs dominated by scleractinians are known to be biodiversity hotspots, however, the sponge assemblages associated with these habitats are still poorly studied in the Mediterranean Sea. Recent investigations of the eastern Ligurian canyons, carried out within the Curiosity Project (UniGe) between 450 and 750 m, unveiled dead and living reefs and rare biocoenoses. In the present work, seven white coral samples, collected from three coral areas, were used to investigate the associated sponge diversity. The taxonomic investigation revealed a high biomass occupancy (176 specimens in about 1500 cm3 of material) and a high biodiversity with 27 species among which 1 new record for the Mediterranean Sea (Iotroata acanthostylifera), 2 new records for the Ligurian Sea (Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) mutabilis and Plocamionida tylotata), and Acanthancora sp. which is a probable new species.