Preliminary data on video inspections of benthopelagic fauna in Mediterranean costal habitats

This study explores benthopelagic fauna associated with rhodolith beds and oyster banks using the MEMO baited lander in three Mediterranean areas: Egadi Islands (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea), and offshore Vieste and Monopoli (Southern Adriatic Sea), at depths between 70–90 m, totaling 43 hours of video. Species abundance values, standardized by recording time, were analyzed in relation to geographic area and habitat type. Direct observation facilitated the documentation of behavioral patterns and interspecific interactions. This approach offers valuable preliminary insights into the faunal composition and abundance of vulnerable Mediterranean habitats.