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Mesophotic azooxanthellate coral communities and submarine seascape during the early Pliocene in Manilva Basin (S Spain)

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Abstract

Azooxanthellate corals are the most abundant macrofossils in the lower Pliocene deposits of the Manilva Basin (S Spain). In this paper, the cnidarian fossil assemblages have been studied in order to reconstruct the original communities and to depict the seascapes. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages associated with the corals have also been analysed to infer the palaeoenvironmental conditions in which they developed. Two sections have been studied. In the Canuto section, Coenosmilia fecunda dominates the cnidarian assemblage, followed by Asterosmilia cf. prolifera and Asterosmilia sp., which are all preserved as moulds and casts. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages indicate oligotrophic conditions and deposition from the middle platform to the upper slope. The Álamos section is characterized by Madrepora oculata, Dendrophyllia ramea, Asterosmilia cf. prolifera, Asterosmilia sp., Coenosmilia fecunda, and gorgonians of the Isididae family (most likely Keratoisis melitensis and/or Lepidisis longiflora), as well as a basal holdfast attributed to a member of either Primnoidae or the Chrysogorgiidae family. Here, corals preserve their original skeletons. Benthic foraminifers suggest deposition in oligotrophic conditions in mid–outer platform settings. Corals in the Canuto section formed autochthonous fossil assemblages, while in the Álamos section they were slightly displaced from their original growth positions to form parautochthonous fossil concentrations. The cnidarian community in the Canuto section was characterized by low-tier organisms either attached to hard substrates provided by skeletal remains (Coenosmilia fecunda) or inhabiting fine-grained bottoms (Asterosmilia spp.). In the Álamos section, Coenosmilia fecunda and Asterosmilia spp. occupied the lowest tier levels. The gorgonians, isidids and members of the Primnoidae or Chrysogorgiidae families, colonized both soft and hard substrates, dominating the next tier level. Finally, Madrepora oculata and Dendrophyllia ramea settled on submarine cliffs or on large blocks derived from substrate, inhabiting the highest position in the community. Large specimens of gorgonians could have also occupied this position.

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Acknowledgements

We very much appreciate the editorial work done by Dr Mark Vermeij, as well as the thorough review of the manuscript by Drs André Freiwald and Marco Taviani. Their comments and suggestions have substantially improved the quality of the paper. We thank Jodi Eckart for her help correcting the English text. Research by JA has been supported by the research project PGC2018-099391-B-100 of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Competitividad, and the research group RMN190 of the Junta de Andalucía. JNPA was founded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual fellowship (MSCA-IF-2018, grant agreement No 840675). EM and AS have been supported by the research group RNM276 of the Junta de Andalucía and the Science and Technology Research Centre of University of Huelva.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva s.n, 18002, Granada, Spain

    Julio Aguirre

  2. Dpto. de Biología Marina, Fundación Museo del Mar, Muelle España s/n, 51001, Ceuta, Spain

    Oscar Ocaña

  3. CEREGE UM34, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, Coll France, 13545, Aix-En-Provence, France

    José N. Pérez-Asensio

  4. IRBio (Biodiversity Research Institute). Dpt. de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l’Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Martí Franquès s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Rosa Domènech & Jordi Martinell

  5. Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Huelva, Campus de El Carmen, Avd. 3 de Marzo, s/n,, 21071, Huelva, Spain

    Eduardo Mayoral

  6. Department of Applied Geosciences, CCTH - Science and Technology Research Centre, University of Huelva, Av. Fuerzas Armadas SN, 21071, Huelva, Spain

    Eduardo Mayoral & Ana Santos

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  1. Julio Aguirre
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  2. Oscar Ocaña
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Correspondence to Julio Aguirre.

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Aguirre, J., Ocaña, O., Pérez-Asensio, J.N. et al. Mesophotic azooxanthellate coral communities and submarine seascape during the early Pliocene in Manilva Basin (S Spain). Coral Reefs 39, 1739–1752 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-02000-x

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