Megabenthic assemblages in deep-sea sedimentary environments receive far less attention than those occurring on rocky environments, despite they have been widely impacted by destructive trawling activities, mainly due to their association with important commercial species. ROV dives conducted on bathyal muds of the Alboran Sea continental slope (western Mediterranean) were used to characterize megabenthic assemblages, as well as assess their response to trawling and benthic litter. We identified a multispecific assemblage, dominated by the isidid Isidella elongata, and two monospecific assemblages composed by the sea-pens Funiculina quadrangularis and Kophobelemnon stelliferum. These assemblages are defined as vulnerable marine ecosystems by international institutions. Trawled areas exhibit significant low densities of habitat-forming species and a striking impoverishment of habitat complexity and diversity. Plastic debris and lost fishing gears were the most abundant components of the marine litter. This study highlights the destructive effects of human activities on bathyal muds, emphasizing the need for urgent conservation measures.

尽管它们受到破坏性拖网活动的广泛影响，但深海沉积环境中的大型底栖动物组合受到的关注远少于岩石环境中的那些，主要是由于它们与重要的商业物种相关联。在Alboran Sea大陆斜坡（地中海西部）的海底泥质上进行的ROV潜水被用来表征大型底栖动物群，并评估它们对拖网渔船和底栖垃圾的反应。我们确定了一个多特异性组合，主要由等长的伊西德拉伊拉菌属（Isidella elongata）和两个单特异性组合组成，这些组合由海豚Funiculina quadrangularis和Kophobelemnon stelliferum组成。这些集合被国际机构定义为脆弱的海洋生态系统。拖网区域的生境形成物种密度极低，生境复杂性和多样性极度贫困。塑料垃圾和丢失的渔具是海洋垃圾中含量最高的成分。这项研究强调了人类活动对水基泥浆的破坏作用，强调了采取紧急保护措施的必要性。