A New Hope? Mediterranean Algae Mats Are Thriving With Life

Abstract

Our oceans are full of life and home to many different species. High species diversity often concentrates in specific areas called “biodiversity hotspots” (e.g., coral reefs). These hotspots develop with the help of a few key engineering species (e.g., corals). In the Mediterranean Sea, well-known biodiversity hotspots are seagrass meadows. Macroalgae beds represent another typical habitat but usually do not provide the same diversity as seagrass meadows. High biodiversity is essential for an ecosystem’s stability and our lives: healthy coastal ecosystems provide food and shelter for fish species and stabilize the seafloor. We investigated a relatively unknown type of red macroalgae and were surprised to find it thriving with marine organisms such as sea stars, anemones, and tube worms. With the latter being an example of an extraordinary group of marine animals, we would like to take this example and show you what we learned about this new hotspot for diversity.