[Coral-List] Effect of sampling on gorgonians

[padron at obs-banyuls.fr]

Hello dear coral-list readers,

I have been looking for literature about the potential effect of sampling
(collection of apical fragments) for genetic studies on the populations of
two coral species, Paramuricea clavata and Corallium rubrum and cannot
seem to find anything about it. After realizing that my search was
probably too specific, I also started looking for papers on any other
coral species, but did not have luck with that either. Hence the reason of
my post.
The issue is that for my PhD research project I need to collect samples of
these two species within and outside a series of MPAs in Europe and, in
order to convince the MPA managers to give me permission to collect
samples within the MPA, I would like to gather some evidence on the effect
(detrimental or not) that this type of sampling could have on the colonies
in the short and long-term.
I have found publications regarding the effect of fishing or SCUBA divers
disturbance on the growth rate and population density, but nothing
specific about sampling.
If any of you happen to know of a scientific paper or report about this
topic, I would greatly appreciate if you pointed it out to me. I trust
that many of you have found yourselves in the same position, and can shed
some light on the issue.

Thank you in advance for your attention and help!


Mariana Padron
PhD Student

LECOB - Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques
Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls sur Mer
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France

and

Laboratorio di Ecologia Marina
Universita di Bologna in Ravenna, Italy


Mailing address: Laboratoire Arago, Avenue du Fontaule. 66650 Banyuls sur
Mer, France.