Fine-scale seabed habitats off Capri Island, southern Italy

A seabed area of the northern submerged flank of the island covering B13 km2 was mapped and sampled to characterize geomorphic features and benthic habitats at high resolution (1:5.000 scale). Morphology and substrate composition of the seabed were characterized using swath bathymetry and sidescan sonar imagery integrated with grab sampling, SCUBA diving, and towed video inspections. The seabed in the study area was characterized by suboutcropping rocky (limestone) areas with thin (,2 m) sediment cover. Geomorphic features included ledge, slope, terrace, and plain. Benthic environments were dominated by coarse biogenic sediments and carbonate buildups made by encrusting organisms (coralligenous bioconstructions), with soft sediments (sandy mud) occurring in water depths of more than 100 m. Seafloor vegetation (Posidonia oceanica) was locally identified alongshore at depth ranging from 5 to 30 m.