Species Richness of Benthic Macrofauna on Rocky Outcrops in the Adriatic Sea by Using Species-Area Relationship (SAR) Tools

In the northern Adriatic Sea, rocky outcrops called “trezze” or “tegnúe” are known as biodiversity hotspots. A total of 45 were studied by using non-destructive photographic sampling during SCUBA diving. Ten invertebrate phyla with 196 taxa recorded, 86% which determined at species level. Among them, 65% sessile, primarily represented Porifera and Chordata. The aims study were: to characterize richness composition epifaunal invertebrates living on outcrops; test efficiency outcrop area a predictor epifauna richness, Arrhenius Species-Area Relationship (SAR) model; compare expected resulting from SAR model observed analysis random photo-squares. Our results show that describes relationship between epibenthic size well may have important practical applications for estimations nature conservation implications. It provides useful tool, also in terms economy speed, estimate benthic numerous remain unsurveyed, based their size.