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Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Journal for Nature Conservation

journal homepage: www.elsevier.de/jnc

1 Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring:

2 The case of Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum)
3 Bramanti Lorenzo a,b,∗ , Vielmini Ilaria a , Rossi Sergio c , Stolfa Stefano d , Santangelo Giovanni a
a
4 Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via volta, 6 56126 Pisa, Italy
b
5 Institut de Ciencies del Mar ICM-CSIC, Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 37-49 08003 Barcelona, Spain
c
6 Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, EdiWci Cn Campus UAB, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
d
7 Scuba Schools International Italia by Sub Service srl via del cerchio 3/c 40012 – Calderara di Reno, Bologna, Italy
8

9 a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
10
11 Article history: Large-scale monitoring programs are fundamental for the management of overexploited or endangered
12 Received 29 October 2010 species. When resources are limited, volunteer data collection could be alternative for researchers need-
13 Received in revised form 18 May 2011 ing large amount of data covering a wide geographic extension. Corallium rubrum is endemic to the
14 Accepted 19 May 2011
Mediterranean Sea. Some coastal populations have been deeply studied although there is still lack of
15 knowledge about the distribution or even its presence along Italian coasts. The present work represents
16 Keywords:
cooperation between University of Pisa and SSI-Italy. Recreational scuba divers have been involved in a
17 Citizen science
monitoring project which aims to acquire data on Italian red coral shallow-water populations and rise
18 Conservation
19 Corallium rubrum the awareness on such an emblematic and patrimonial species. During summer 2008 a questionnaire
20 Monitoring was distributed to recreational divers. The 616 questionnaires analyzed, covering more than 1600 km of
21 Non consumptive utilization coasts and 390 h of diving, showed an awareness of recreational divers towards red coral: 80% planned
22 Volunteers their dive aiming to find red coral and 4% reported colony damage. The same methodology applied in
other countries could provide useful and comparable data on this precious marine species.
© 2011 Published by Elsevier GmbH.

23 Introduction Cohn 2008; Newman, Buesching, & Macdonald 2003; Pattengill- 41

Semmens & Semmens 2003). Moreover, volunteer’s involvement 42

24 Conservation actions focused on a species, a habitat or an ecosys- has an educative value as it leads to an increased awareness on 43

25 tem need to be based on large scale monitoring programs. In conservation issues (Goffredo, Piccinetti, & Zaccanti 2004; Goffredo 44

26 the case of overexploited and/or endangered species, monitoring et al., 2010; Gouveia et al., 2004; Medio, Ormond, & Pearson 1997). 45

27 should be a routine activity. In countries where scientific research The data obtained are always simple and most of the time sim- 46

28 is funded, the governments, through scientists and technicians ply qualitative or semi-quantitative, but they can be useful for 47

29 who collect the data, usually funds monitoring activities. When management (Fuentes et al. 2010; Ryder et al. 2010; Silvert 1997; 48

30 the body of data needed covers large areas and the lack of gov- Stallings 2009). Projects grounding on data collected by scuba 49

31 ernmental funding is chronic, skilled amateur volunteers (citizen divers have been going on with good results in coral reef moni- 50

32 scientists) could provide valuable support if they are involved toring. PADI Project AWARE (www.projectaware.org), Coral Watch 51

33 in large-scale monitoring activities (Brightsmith, Stronza, & Holle (www.coralwatch.org) and Reef Check (www.reefcheck.org) are 52

34 2008; Danielsen et al. 2008; Greenwood 1994; Silvertown 2009). some examples of involvement of recreational scuba divers, diving 53

35 Citizen scientists are volunteers many of whom may have no spe- centres and scientists in big monitoring programs. 54

36 cific scientific training who perform or manage research-related The red coral Corallium rubrum (L 1758), the so called “Mediter- 55

37 tasks such as observation, measurement or computation as field ranean Red Gold”, is a long-lived, slow-growing gorgonian endemic 56

38 assistants in scientific studies. They can supply a large sampling to the Mediterranean Sea and its neighbouring Atlantic rocky 57

39 effort over a wide geographic and temporal extension for data too shores, where it dwells between 10 and 600 m depth range 58

40 complicated to gather by a single research group (Boero et al. 2009; (Costantini et al. 2009; Rossi et al. 2008; Zibrowius & Taviani 2005). 59

Red coral has been harvested for at least two thousand years due to 60

its red, calcareous axial skeleton, which is used as highly valuable 61

material for jewellery (Tsounis et al. 2010). 62

∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 636164574.
It is one of the most precious marine species which presence in 63
E-mail addresses: bramanti@icm.csic.es (B. Lorenzo), Sergio.Rossi@uab.cat
(R. Sergio), stefano.stolfa@ssi-italy.org (S. Stefano), gsantangelo@biologia.unipi.it
the human culture has been recorded since the Bronze age (Jope 64

(S. Giovanni). 1971). Red coral has been always appreciated in Asian culture for 65

1617-1381/$ – see front matter © 2011 Published by Elsevier GmbH.

doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004

Please cite this article in press as: Lorenzo, B., et al. Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring: The case of
Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004
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2 B. Lorenzo et al. / Journal for Nature Conservation xxx (2011) xxx–xxx

66 its red colour and in Christian religion was considered as a sym- Table 1
The 19 questions proposed to the ricreational scuba divers in the questionnaire.
67 bol of Jesus Christ’s blood. References to red coral can be found
68 in several renaissance painting such as “Madonna del Solletico” Questions
69 by Tommaso Masaccio and “Madonna di Senigallia” by Piero Della
1 Place of dive
70 Francesca (Tescione 1965). 2 Diving site
71 Q1 According to Pervanchon (2004) a patrimonial species is “a 3 Date
72 rare or threatened species which needs local management and 4 Mean depth
5 Marine Protected Area?
73 which may be a flagship species and may have cultural impor-
6 Diving time
74 tance”. Clergue et al. (2005) stated that patrimonial value could be 7 Maximum depth
75 due to aesthetic qualities of a landscape. Mediterranean red coral 8 Are you diving to see red coral?
76 posses all the characteristics of a patrimonial species as it are rare 9 Have you been trained on how to avoid colony breaking?
77 and threatened (Tsounis et al. 2010), it needs local management 10 At what depth did you see the first colonies?
11 At what depth did you see the last colonies?
78 (Santangelo, Bramanti, & Iannelli 2007) and it has cultural and eco-
12 Where did you find the colonies? (1) Cave, (2) Crevice, (3) Wall
79 nomic importance (Tescione 1965). Moreover the presence of living 13 Have you seen fishing lines on the colonies?
80 C. rubrum colonies gives aesthetic value to the landscape. 14 Have you seen remains of fishing nets on the colonies?
81 Two different kinds of populations can be distinguished: 15 Have any colony been broken during the dive?
16 Branched colonies percentage (a) 0–30%, (b) 30–100%
82 Shallow populations (up to 50 m depth), characterized by small
17 Dead colonies percentage (a) 0–30%, (b) 30–100%
83 sized colonies, few braches, small average basal diameter, high den- 18 Dead base percentage (a) 0–30%, (b) 30–100%
84 sity (Santangelo & Abbiati 2001; Tsounis et al. 2007) and with a 19 Estimated colony density (1) High, (2) Medium, (3) Low
85 limited economic value due to its colony small size and its para-
86 sitic boring sponges infection (more than 50% of the colonies are
87 affected by boring sponges; Corriero, Abbiati, & Santangelo 1997). nomical importance due to the added touristic and naturalistic 132

88 Deep populations (below 50 m depth) are characterized by big value it provides to the diving sites. 133

89 sized colonies with large average basal diameter, low density and Fruition of a species according to a non-consumptive utilization 134

90 a high economical value (Rossi et al. 2008; Santangelo & Abbiati is based on the level of awareness of the targeted species by end 135

91 2001). users and stakeholders (Duffus & Dearden 1990). For this reason 136

92 Studies on different shallow-water populations have shown some of the questions are addressed to understand if scuba-divers 137

93 their vulnerability to human disturbance, overfishing and, in some are conscious of the value of red coral, and if so if they manage 138

94 cases, to mortality events due to anomalous water temperature their behaviour during their dives according to a precautionary 139

95 raise (Bramanti et al. 2005; Garrabou et al. 2001; Santangelo et al. approach. 140

96 2007). The aim of the present work is to collect data about the geo- 141

97 Moreover, data on shallow populations suggest that colony size graphic and bathymetric distribution and health status of C. rubrum 142

98 has been reduced (and probably density increased) due to the shallow populations along the Italian coasts. Finally, this work aims 143

99 over-harvesting pressure these populations have faced (Bramanti, to validate a general monitoring protocol based on the help of recre- 144

100 Iannelli, & Santangelo 2009; Santangelo et al. 2004; Tsounis et al. ational scuba divers that can be applied in other countries or to 145

101 2007). other benthic suspension feeders which aesthetic value is recog- 146

102 The majority of the scientific studies on C. rubrum focus on nised by recreational scuba divers such as Paramuricea clavata. 147

103 shallow populations. Along the Italian coasts, the only populations
104 studied in detail are those that dwell at Portofino (Genoa), Calafuria Methods 148

105 (Livorno) and Elba Island (Livorno) (Abbiati, Santangelo, & Novelli
106 1993; Cattaneo-Vietti, Bavestrello, & Senes 1993; Costantini et al. The questionnaire was introduced to scuba divers dur- 149

107 2009; Santangelo et al. 2004). The sparse information dealing with ing EUDISHOW 2008 (European Diving Trade Fair) and 2500 150

108 other Italian populations derives mainly from personal communi- copies were distributed in spring 2008 to all the SSI diving 151

109 cation with scuba divers. This information is occasional and does centres along the Italian coast (Fig. 1). Moreover the most 152

110 not support any scientific analysis. In order to plan effective con- important Italian diving magazines published the questionnaire 153

111 servation actions it is extremely important to obtain data on the with the option of completing it online (http://www.ssi- 154

112 geographic distribution of this species. An organized data flow from italy.org/ororosso/ororosso form scheda.php) and thus reach a 155

113 recreational divers to scientists is therefore needed. The wide geo- large number of recreational scuba divers. 156

114 graphic range of red coral along the Italian coasts and the large Questionnaires included an explanation of the research aims, 157

115 amount of data needed suggested us to look for volunteering coop- a description of the basic ecology and conservation issues about 158

116 eration. Although there is some disagreement on volunteering data Mediterranean red coral and consent for the privacy issues and 159

117 reliability (Darwall & Dulvy 1996; Saunders 2002), a number of for the use of the data. They were filled either electronically or in 160

118 studies have been shown that scuba divers have been able to reli- printed version immediately after the dive, gathered by SSI-Italy 161

119 ably contribute to valid gross data (Hodgson 1999; Mumby et al. and sent to Department of Biology – Red Coral Research Group, 162

120 1995). Moreover, according to Foster-Smith and Evans (2003), reli- University of Pisa, where they were organized in a database and 163

121 ability of data is inversely related to the difficulty of the task. Hence examined. 164

122 we set out a questionnaire proposing simple questions that could The questionnaire (Fig. 1) is composed of 19 questions (Table 1) 165

123 give information on some gross ecological features of the Italian red subdivided in a first block of 15 simple queries and a second block 166

124 coral shallow populations. Moreover the questionnaire is expected of 4 additional ones requiring a more careful answer by the diver. 167

125 to give some insights into the perception of red coral by recreational The first 7 questions are general and deal with the diving conditions 168

126 and professional scuba divers and provide useful information for (date, time, area, site, maximum and mean depth of the dive and 169

127 conservation of shallow water populations. A similar data sampling whether the diving site was inside a Marine Protected Area). 170

128 technique in Mediterranean Sea has been applied to other marine Questions 8 and 9 deal with the consciousness on the naturalistic 171

129 species with positive results (Goffredo et al. 2004). and touristic value of red coral by divers and diving centres. These 172

130 Although the commercial value of red coral colonies found in two questions are addressed to understand if site selection by scuba 173

131 shallow waters is low, it has been shown that it holds a high eco- divers is driven by the presence of red coral (question 8) and if 174

Please cite this article in press as: Lorenzo, B., et al. Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring: The case of
Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004
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B. Lorenzo et al. / Journal for Nature Conservation xxx (2011) xxx–xxx 3

Fig. 1. The questionnaire is composed by a series of simple questions aimed to give some raw data on distribution and health status of coastal red coral populations. A brief
explanation of red coral ecology and on the aim of the project are reported as well a consent for the privacy issues were included in the questionnaire.

Please cite this article in press as: Lorenzo, B., et al. Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring: The case of
Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004
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4 B. Lorenzo et al. / Journal for Nature Conservation xxx (2011) xxx–xxx

Fig. 2. Geographic distribution of red coral shallow population according to the answers to questions 1 and 5. Each point represents a diving site in which a red coral
population has been pointed out. (1) Savona. (2) Portofino MPA. (3) Livorno. (4) Elba Island. (5) Giglio Island. (6) Porto S. Stefano. (7) Civitavecchia. (8) Procida Island. (9)
Capri Island. (10) Palinuro. (11) Vulcano Island. (12) Terrasini.

175 the diving centres perceive red coral as a resource that has to be unteers were required to supply estimates of morphology choosing 191

176 preserved (question 9). This last question, in fact, investigates if between different options (% of branched colonies; question 16), 192

177 scuba divers received a pre-dive briefing explaining how to avoid colony density (high, medium or low, question 19) and signals of 193

178 incidental damage to coral colonies. mortality (% of death colonies, question 17) and harvesting (% of 194

179 Questions 10–15 are aimed to collect some general data of colony bases which remain on the rock after colonies have been 195

180 red coral populations. The set of question supplies information on cut off, question 18). 196

181 population bathymetric range (maximum and minimum depth at

182 which colonies were observed; questions 10 and 11), on the habi- Results 197
183 tat in which colonies are found (cave, wall or crevices; question
184 12) and on the presence of some possible mortality sources for red Distribution 198
185 coral colonies: remains of fishing lines (question 13), fishing nets
186 (question 14) and direct damage by scuba divers (question 15). Overall 616 questionnaires (24.6% of the total distributed) from 199
187 The first 15 questions are basic and simple, while questions 12 sites were gathered by 16 diving centres and 3 scuba associations 200
188 16–19, as indicated in the questionnaire (Fig. 1), seek a more precise until June 2009. Questionnaires were well distributed between 201
189 description of the population. With the help of colour photographs the 12 sites with a mean number of questionnaires per site of 202
190 present in both printed and online version of the questionnaire, vol- 51.25 ± 19.9 (standard deviation). Excluded questionnaires were 203

Please cite this article in press as: Lorenzo, B., et al. Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring: The case of
Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004
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Table 2
Results of the answer to the question proposed in the questionnaire.

Question 8: Did you dive specifically to see red coral? 80% Yes 20% No
Question 9: Have you been informed on how to avoid breaking colonies? 92% Yes 8% No
Questions 10 and 11: Depth range of red coral colonies 10–50 m
Question 12: Habitat Cave 6% Crevices 30% Wall 64%
Question 13: Have you seen fishing lines on the colonies? 34% Yes 66% No
Question 14: Have you seen remains of fishing nets on the colonies? 17% Yes 83% No
Question 15: Have any colony been broken during the dive? 96% No 4% Yes
Question 16: Estimated % of branching colonies <30% Branching colonies (33%) >30% Branching colonies (46%) Not reported 31%
Question 17: Estimated % of death colonies <30% Death colonies (73%) >30% Death colonies (3%) Not reported 24%
Question 18: Estimated % of death colony bases <30% Death bases (66%) >30% Death bases (2%) Not reported 32%
Question 19: Estimated colony density High density 25% Medium density 38% Low density 13%

204 115 (18.6%). SSI diving centres that helped in distribution gath- Habitat 251

205 ered 387 questionnaires (62.9% of total gathered) while 112 (18.3%)
206 where filled online and 117 (19%) were gathered by individual The first block of basic questions ends with a question about the 252

207 divers. This result shows the importance of the help of diving cen- habitat in which red coral colonies were observed (Table 1, ques- 253

208 tres in the successful outcome of the activity. Nevertheless the 229 tion 12). The majority of the divers (94%) reported that red coral 254

209 (37.2%) questionnaires gathered online and from individual divers colonies settled on rocky walls or in crevices of the wall confirming 255

210 show a good participation also by the single citizens and a good previous studies (Rossi et al. 2008; Virgilio, Airoldi, & Abbiati 2006). 256

211 communication by magazines, internet and television. A more deep Only 6% of the questionnaires reported colonies settled inside a 257

212 analysis of data showed that the 115 not valid questionnaires were cave (Table 2, question 12) also if this last result could be biased 258

213 not uniformly distributed between the 3 sources of gathering: 50 by a lower frequentation of caves by recreational divers, as further 259

214 invalid questionnaires came from diving centres, 32 from online discussed. 260

215 filled and 33 from single scuba divers, representing an error per-
216 centage respectively of 12.9%, 28.5% and 28.2%. Error percentage Population features 261
217 resulted significantly lower from the expected value in question-
218 naires gathered by diving centres while a higher error percentage Questions 16–19 were addressed to more expert and watchful 262
219 resulted in the questionnaires filled online and gathered by sin- divers (Table 1). As expected, the percentage of “not reported data” 263
220 gle scuba divers (2 = 18.14; p < 0.01). These results showed that is quite high (24%, 32%, and 31% respectively for questions 16, 17 264
221 the accuracy of the answer is not independent from their source and 18) because of the higher attention these questions required 265
222 confirming the key role of the diving centres in the initiative. (Table 2, questions 16–18). 266
223 Only one population of the 12 analyzed was located in a Marine High and medium colony density were found in 25% and 38% 267
224 Protected Area. The whole time spent by divers observing red coral, of the dives respectively, while low densities were reported only 268
225 calculated on the basis of the answers to question 6 (diving time, by 13% of divers (Table 2, question 19). A high percentage of dead 269
226 Table 1) was 390 h and the extension of coast covered is about colonies and dead colony base was recorded in 3% and 2% of the 270
227 1600 km (from Liguria to Sicily). dives respectively (Table 2, questions 17 and 18) while 33% of the 271
228 Geographic distribution of the red coral coastal populations dives reported a high percentage of branching colonies (Table 2, 272
229 reported along the Italian coasts is shown in Fig. 2. Even though question 16). 273
230 a detailed map of the coastal population cannot still be drawn, the
231 map gives a rough sketch highlighting the wide geographical dis-
232 tribution of the species, ranging from Sicily up to Liguria, passing Discussion 274

233 by Naples Gulf and the coasts of Lazio and Tuscany.

234 Results on the question proposed are resumed in Table 2. Notwithstanding questionnaires were distributed all over Italy, 275

235 The distribution of red coral over the bathymetric range all reported questionnaires deals with the western coast of Italy 276

236 explored (10–50 m) was large. Nevertheless the majority of sight- and none of them with Sardinia (the region of Italy which 277

237 ings (63%) were reported between 20 and 40 m depth. harbours the main red coral commercial populations; Pedoni 278

et al. 2008) and with the Ionian Sea, in which some red coral 279

populations are known to dwell (Tescione 1973). This lack of 280

238 Awareness data could indicate a shift in red coral bathymetric distribution 281

towards deeper habitats due to the harvesting episodes these 282

239 The answers to the questions 8 and 9 (Table 2) showed that shallow populations suffered in the past. Although this harvest- 283

240 the majority (80%) of the recreational scuba divers chose their dive ing pressure is well known and documented for Sardinia, there 284

241 site according to the presence of red coral and that diving centres are no quantitative data of red coral harvesting in the Ionian 285

242 are conscious of the importance of these coastal populations (92% Sea (FAO 2007). 286

243 of scuba divers assisted to a specific briefing to avoid incidental The wide distribution of red coral population along the Italian 287

244 damages to red coral colonies). coasts is similar to that found in Catalonia (NW Mediterranean), 288

where red coral is common along the coast on rocky bottoms below 289

20 m depth (Rossi et al. 2008; Tsounis et al. 2006). 290

245 Mortality causes The awareness of diving centres and recreational divers (Table 2, 291

questions 8 and 9) plays a key role in the possibility of planning non- 292
246 Questions 13–15 investigate the most important mortality consumptive wildlife-oriented recreation (NCWOR) actions based 293
247 sources for red coral colonies other than harvesting. Results show on red coral shallow populations. NCWOR has been defined as “a 294
248 that the remains of fishing nets are sparse (17%) while fishing lines human recreational engagement with wildlife wherein the focal 295
249 are more common (34%). Only 4% of the divers reported colony organism is not purposefully removed or permanently affected by 296
250 damage during the dive (Table 2). the engagement” (Duffus & Dearden 1990). This kind of tourism 297

Please cite this article in press as: Lorenzo, B., et al. Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring: The case of
Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004
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298 has rapidly been growing during the last few years (Reynolds & density (Tsounis et al. 2006). In this area both legal and illegal har- 364

299 Braithwaite 2001) and can generate direct and indirect benefits for vesting are frequent, so the population structure has been altered. 365

300 the local economy and conservation. The direct economical benefit
301 deriving from a non-consumptive fruition of a species could drive
302 stakeholders towards conservation procedures more than exploita- Conclusions 366

303 tion, indirectly reducing harvesting, poaching and other threats.

304 The concept of non-consumptive utilization is widely applied for Red coral represent a great attractive feature to scuba divers, 367

305 several patrimonial species such as cetaceans (Barstow 1996) and as it is a beautiful and quite rare species dwelling in the range of 368

306 sea turtles (Wilson & Tisdell 2001). Data from questions 8 and 9 recreational diving. C. rubrum in the past has been considered only 369

307 indicate that C. rubrum probably has the typical features of the a supply of raw material for jewels. Our results showed that this 370

308 patrimonial species (Pervanchon 2004) that can be targeted by species is gaining an added value due to the aesthetic quality that 371

309 NCWOR (Duffus & Dearden 1990). its presence in the diving sites offers to recreational divers. This 372

310 Remains of fishing nets and fishing lines represent mortality perception gives to red coral the typical features of the so-called 373

311 causes other than temperature anomalies and harvesting. Fish- charismatic fauna (Pervanchon 2004; Zsuzsi et al. 2006). Species 374

312 ing nets are sparse (Table 2, question 14) probably due to the with these characteristics, like red coral in the upper part of its 375

313 proximity of shallow populations to the coast and does not rep- bathymetric distribution and sea fans, can be object of a “non- 376

314 resent a major threat to red coral coastal populations. On the consumptive wildlife oriented tourism” (Duffus & Dearden 1990). 377

315 other hand, fishing lines (Table 2, question 13) could be an impor- Paraphrasing a sentence of the anthropologist Claude Levi Strauss 378

316 tant source of mortality in these places where recreational fishing and applying it to the shallow red coral populations we could say, 379

317 is made above the red coral populations from boats. Distur- “totemic animals are good to see and not to wear” (Levi-Strauss 380

318 bance of these recreational fishing practices is still under debate, 1962; Tambiah 1969). It is therefore expected a large number of 381

319 but it has been demonstrated that in some areas these could visitors in sites characterized by the presence of this species and 382

320 be an important source of perturbation (Mangi & Roberts 2006; the consequent risk of incidental damages by scuba divers (Medio 383

321 Morales-Nin et al. 2005; Tsounis personal communication). Such et al. 1997). Negative effects of global warming linked mortalities 384

322 mortality derives from the tearing of colonies when lines are on shallow water populations (Bramanti et al. 2005; Garrabou et al. 385

323 pulled. 2001) can be coupled to harvesting effects leading some coastal 386

324 The low percentage of colony damage recorded during the dives populations to local extinction (Santangelo et al. 2007). A constant 387

325 (Table 2, question 15) indicates that at the moment the touris- monitoring of the coastal shallow populations by volunteering 388

326 tic impact by scuba diving can be considered low, highlighting scuba divers is therefore needed. 389

327 an increased awareness by recreational scuba divers approach- The results of the present work highlight the importance of 390

328 ing sensitive species and fragile ecosystems. However, due to volunteers’ involvement in the monitoring of the anthropogenic 391

329 the fragility of the colonies and the long periods required for negative effects (poaching and remains of fishing devices) on a 392

330 growth (Marschall, Garrabou, & Harmelin 1996), a big effort is fragile and endangered species and the awareness of recreational 393

331 required to avoid coral breakage. The sum of effects by several scuba divers of such species. The protocol here presented should 394

332 dives a week in the same area could be at the end pernicious for be applied to other Mediterranean countries characterized by the 395

333 this long-lived animal. Sala, Garrabou, and Zabala (1996) demon- presence of C. rubrum. A monitoring of shallow water populations 396

334 strated how scuba divers could have a significant impact on the on Mediterranean scale is useful for a common management plan 397

335 Mediterranean bryozoans Pentapora fascialis in high-frequented of this valuable resource and it can be obtained with the coop- 398

336 places in respect to low frequented ones, and Coma et al. (2004) eration of recreational scuba divers based on the same protocol 399

337 showed similar results for the long-lived Mediterranean gorgonian here presented in order to obtain comparable data. The concept of 400

338 P. clavata. non-consumptive utilization can be applied also to other benthic 401

339 Results on habitat preferences (Table 2, question 12) could have suspension feeders representing an attraction for scuba divers. 402

340 double interpretation: as caves are known to be a good habitat for

341 C. rubrum shallow colonies, only 6% of sighting in caves could rea-
342 sonably be due to a lower frequentation of caves by recreational Uncited references Q2 403

343 divers rather than to a dramatic effect of frequent recreational

344 diving in caves. A census of the caves in the same areas where Cerrano et al. (2000), Costantini, Fauvelot, and Abbiati (2007), 404

345 red coral population were found could bring some light on this Garrabou et al. (2009) and Santangelo et al. (2009). 405

346 topic.
347 The low percentage of dead colonies and dead colony bases
348 (Table 2, question 17 and 18) found indicates that recreational div- Acknowledgements 406

349 ing does not have a negative effect on the population examined.
350 Moreover, they seem to be recovering from the mortality events This research is part of a post doctorate project co-funded by SSI 407

351 happened in 1999 and 2003 (Bramanti et al. 2005; Garrabou et al. Italia and University of Pisa. We would like to thank all the diving 408

352 2001; Santangelo et al. 2007). Notwithstanding this situation, a centres that helped in the collection of the questionnaires and the 409

353 continuous monitoring activity is necessary. One of the positive, recreational scuba divers “citizen scientists” that participated to the 410

354 unexpected findings is the high percentage of branched colonies project. L.B. was funded by Marie Curie IEF (CORGARD, Project No. 411

355 found (Table 2, question 16). According to the relation between 221072) and S.R. by a Ramon y Cajal contract. We want to thank also 412

356 age and branch order (Vielmini 2010), this finding indicates that the magazines Mondo sommerso and Il Subacqueo and the Italian 413

357 the population structure is composed by a large amount of old television program Linea Blu that contributed to a global diffusion 414

358 colonies. all over Italy of the questionnaire. Thanks to Carlos Dominguez for 415

359 Low colony density was reported only in 13% of the dives the English revision. A special thank to Stefano Infanti (SSI Italia) 416

360 (Table 2, question 19) confirming that the shallow coastal popu- that organized the online collection of questionnaires. Thanks to 417

361 lations examined are not object of harvesting pressure. In contrast, DIVE SYSTEM for the contribution to the questionnaire print and 418

362 the Costa Brava populations (Catalonia) showed a dramatic low to FISCHER Italia. Thanks to the anonymous referees that strongly 419

363 branching pattern and a sparse distribution, with patches of low contributed to the improvement of the paper. 420

Please cite this article in press as: Lorenzo, B., et al. Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring: The case of
Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004
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Please cite this article in press as: Lorenzo, B., et al. Involvement of recreational scuba divers in emblematic species monitoring: The case of
Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum). Journal for Nature Conservation (2011), doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2011.05.004