In the temperate Mediterranean Sea, Cladocora caespitosa is the unique species of zooxanthelate reef-building coral and it threatened by different kinds of human pressure. The present study aims at evaluating the effects of a benthic mucilagenous aggregates bloom on a bed of Cladocora caespitosa. Colony density, cover and necrosis of the bed before and after the benthic mucilagenous aggregates bloom were compared. After the event there was an increase in necrosis which caused a decrease in colony density and cover. The study quantified the damage as an increase of necrosis of about 55% and an overall loss of percentage cover of about 85% of living C. caespitosa, suggesting that benthic mucilagenous aggregates may be a serious threat for this endemic Mediterranean hermatypic coral.

在温带地中海，Cladocora caespitosa是一种独特的虫黄藻造礁珊瑚，受到各种人类压力的威胁。本研究旨在评估底栖黏液聚集体对Cladocora caespitosa床的影响。比较了底栖粘液聚集体开花前后床层的菌落密度、覆盖度和坏死情况。事件发生后，坏死增加，导致菌落密度和覆盖率下降。该研究将损害量化为大约 55% 的坏死增加和大约 85% 的活体C. caespitosa的总体损失百分比，表明底栖粘液聚集体可能是这种地方性地中海混血珊瑚的严重威胁。