DOCUMENTATION AND MONITORING OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES USING 3D IMAGING TECHNIQUES: THE CASE STUDY OF THE “NYMPHAEUM OF PUNTA EPITAFFIO” (BAIAE, NAPLES)

This study shows a new method for mapping coralligenous bioconstructions using high-resolution acoustic data. The protocol integrates bathymetry, backscatter, and geomorphological indices, providing detailed information on the spatial and volumetric distribution of benthic habitats. This approach offers valuable insights for monitoring and conserving Mediterranean ecosystems, with potential applications in understanding habitat structure and guiding future conservation actions.

Who constructs the build-ups of the Mediterranean Sea? What is the role of skeletal and soft-bodied organisms in these bioconstructions? Do bacteria play a role in their formation? In this research, for the first time, the coralligenous of the Mediterranean shelf is studied from a geobiological point of view with an interdisciplinary biological and geological approach, highlighting important biotic relationships that can be used in interpreting the fossil build-up systems.