Red gorgonians are among the most structuring organisms in the Mediterranean.

These colonies of animals form true underwater forests, providing shelter for a multitude of species: fish, sponges, crustaceans, nudibranchs, starfish…

By filtering the water, this engineering species creates conditions that favor the development of coralligenous habitats, a unique landscape in the Mediterranean.

But these spectacular animals have a weakness:

When the water is too warm for too long, their tissue becomes fragile.

During marine heatwaves, entire sections of gorgonians develop necrotic areas within days, and some populations suffer massive mortality.

The BUFFER project, supported by Pure Ocean, aims to understand why some colonies survive while others do not.

By studying their genetics, Jean Baptiste Ledoux and his team hope to provide new management strategies for the National Park and give these emblematic underwater forests a chance to thrive.

Protecting gorgonians means preserving the Mediterranean we love.

Learn more: https://www.pure-ocean.org/nos-projets/buffer/