Coralligenous banks along the western and northern continental shelf of Sardinia Island (Mediterranean Sea)

Mapping of coralligenous banks was carried out along the continental shelf northern and western margin Sardinia Island (Italy, Mediterranean Sea) in context European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC). Coralligenous are bioconstructions produced by calcareous coralline algae. Seafloor mapping through multibeam echosounder surveys video transects, using a Remote Operating Vehicles (ROV), areas not formerly explored. A high-resolution digital model seabed (DTM) obtained from data. total surface 436 km2 sparse patches mapped depth range ~40-160 m. final map habitat distributions (scale 1:250,000) produced. The base-map is formed shaded DTM seabed. Other features include edge distribution rocky