In 2003, 2004 and 2005, three surveys were carried out to explore the submerged coast of the Southern Albania. Four submarine caves were found during the first expeditionat the tip of the Karaburun Peninsula, and here the first description of them is given together with the map. During the second and third expedition, a more accurate description of biological features and of linear measures has been done of the submerged portion of Haxhi Ali, the largest of the described caves. Distinctive characteristics of the submerged caves of the Albanian coast are benthic assemblages which are not common or even absent from the Italian side. A very noticeable one of these is the population of Hypsichomus stichophthalmus (Polychaeta) in the Haxhi Ali cave. In general, also vagile benthos appeared more abundant (fishes, echinoderms, worms, crustaceans) than in Italian caves. From the abiotic point of view, a lower temperature has been measured more than 3 m below the sea level, which probably is the main responsible of these biotic assemblage differences.
LE GROTTE SOMMERSE DELLA PENISOLADEL KARABURUN (ALBANIA): PRIMI DATI
BELMONTE, Genuario;MOSCATELLO, Salvatore;DENITTO, Francesco;
2006-01-01
Abstract
In 2003, 2004 and 2005, three surveys were carried out to explore the submerged coast of the Southern Albania. Four submarine caves were found during the first expeditionat the tip of the Karaburun Peninsula, and here the first description of them is given together with the map. During the second and third expedition, a more accurate description of biological features and of linear measures has been done of the submerged portion of Haxhi Ali, the largest of the described caves. Distinctive characteristics of the submerged caves of the Albanian coast are benthic assemblages which are not common or even absent from the Italian side. A very noticeable one of these is the population of Hypsichomus stichophthalmus (Polychaeta) in the Haxhi Ali cave. In general, also vagile benthos appeared more abundant (fishes, echinoderms, worms, crustaceans) than in Italian caves. From the abiotic point of view, a lower temperature has been measured more than 3 m below the sea level, which probably is the main responsible of these biotic assemblage differences.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
