Marine caves constitute a typical feature of the Mediterranean coastline, yet knowledge on their biodiversity is scattered and geographically fragmented. Approximately 3000 marine caves have been recorded until today on the rocky coasts of the Mediterranean Sea (Giakoumi et al., 2013). Harbouring a variety of sciaphilic communities, ranging from coralligenous to semi- and entirely-dark cave assemblages (Pérès & Picard, 1964). Following Riedl’s work, several publications have dealt with marine cave biota from an ecological, taxonomical, or faunistic point of view; yet knowledge on their biodiversity remains limited and geographically fragmented.
The aim of the present study is to couple innovative techniches as Photogrammetry with more traditional approaches as videotransects and taxonomical identification in order to:
i) give a preliminary overview of the Mediterranean marine cave sessile biodiversity on Grotta azurra located on Ancona's shores, paying special attention to the taxa of Porifera and Tunicata;
ii) Using photogrammetrical approches, to create a three-dimensional reconstruction of the cave;
iii) Further analysis will compare communites between the semi-dark and the entirely-dark section of the cave.
