FIRST DATA ON THE SPONGE FAUNA OF A SEMI-SUBMERGED CAVE OF THE ADRIATIC APULIAN COAST (SOUTHERN ITALY, MEDITERRANEAN SEA)

Marine caves are vulnerable habitats considered an important hotspot for biodiversity in the Abstract Marine caves are vulnerable habitats considered an important hotspot for biodiversity in the Mediterranean SeaThey contain unique taxa assemblages and play the precious role of refuge for endemic and/or “relict” speciesAlthough the Apulian Adriatic coast hosts numerous marine cavesonly two caves have been studied for poriferansIn this paper, we present the first data on the sponge fauna of the Colombi Cavea semisubmerged cave 70 meters longlocated along the cliff of Polignano a Mare (Apulian coast) A nondestructive photographic method was employed, followed by advanced image analysis and targeted sampling of some speciesA total of 55 sponge taxa were identified in the cavePorifera dominated the benthic community and reached the maximum covering percentage in semidark conditionsThe present study improves the state of knowledge o