Shallow Rhodolit Beds in Capo Peloro Lagoon

Rhodoliths, known to be a relevant component of Circalittoral environments, are almost neglected in shallow waters. In this paper, brackish water rodholith beds are reported from Capo Peloro Lagoon (north-eastern Sicily), together with a preliminary species determination. In particular, patch distributed rodholit beds were found in Lake Faro, as tied to the traditional practices of clam farming which, moving sediments, hamper mud deposition, and accumulate bioclasts (shells) which act as accretion core. In the canals, instead, the rhodolith growth is supposed to be favoured by the strong tidal regyme, which hampers mud sedimentation, improves water exchange, and supplies nutrients from the connected lacustrine environment. In both environments, the most common Corallinaceae morphospecies were Neogoniolithon brassica-florida (Harvey) Setchell et L.R.Mason, Neogoniolithon hauckii (Rothpletz) R.A.Townsend et Huisman and Phymatolithon lenormandii (Areschoug) W.H.Adey.