Stability of epibiotic communities on the metal surfaces of shallow-water wrecks in the maltese islands Perla Galatolo University of Malta, Malta Patrick J. Schembri University of Malta, Malta This is a section of Tenth InternationaSymposium Monitoring of Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Problems and Measurement Techniques(DOI: 10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6) by Laura Bonora, Marcantonio Catelani, Matteo De Vincenzi, Giorgio Matteucci Firenze University Press Florence 2024 https://doi.org/10.36253/979-12-215-0556-6.18

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The epibiotic assemblages on three wrecks in Maltese waters were studied by taking photoquadrats on the metal hull of each wreck, and on nearby natural hard substrata for comparison. The taxon richness and cover area of the colonising organisms was quantified, and organisms were classified into functional groups based on structural features. Bare patches of hull surface were present on all wrecks and the epibiota occurred in a mosaic of assemblages. Taxon richness was higher on the hulls than on natural substrata. It is suggested that the wrecks have a disclimax community supported by disturbances, such as uneven sloughing of the corroding metal, resulting is a mosaic of patches at different stages of succession. The natural hard substrata showed a high proportion of tall arborescent forms compared to hulls, supporting the hypothesis of the impeded development of a climatic climax community on the wrecks. NMDS ordination showed that the three wrecks were distinguishable from each other based on the relative cover of the different functional groups.

 Disclimax Succession Infralittoral Rock Colonisation Functional groups

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