scholarly journals Effects of global warming on Mediterranean coral forests

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Chimienti ◽  
Diana De Padova ◽  
Maria Adamo ◽  
Michele Mossa ◽  
Antonella Bottalico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Warming Trend ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Paramuricea Clavata ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Tropical Areas

AbstractThe effects of global warming have been addressed on coral reefs in tropical areas, while it is still unclear how coral forests are reacting, particularly at temperate latitudes. Here we show how mesophotic coral forests are affected by global warming in the Mediterranean Sea. We highlight how the current warming trend is causing the lowering of the thermocline and it is enhancing mucilaginous blooms. These stressors are facilitating a massive macroalgal epibiosis on living corals, here reported for the first time from different areas in the Western and Central Mediterranean Sea. We provide a focus of this phenomenon at Tremiti Islands Marine Protected Area (Adriatic Sea), were the density of the endemic red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata decreased of up to 47% in 5 years, while up to the 96% of the living corals showed signs of stress and macroalgal epibiosis. Only populations deeper than 60 m depth were not touched by this emerging phenomenon. Spot observations performed at Tuscan Archipelago and Tavolara Marine Protected Area (Tyrrhenian Sea) suggest that this this combination of stressors is likely widespread at basin scale.

scholarly journals Seabed classification around Lampione islet, Pelagie Islands Marine Protected area, Sicily Channel, Mediterranean Sea

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Innangi ◽  
Gabriella Di Martino ◽  
Claudia Romagnoli ◽  
Renato Tonielli
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Seabed Classification ◽  
Sicily Channel

scholarly journals A new contribution to the alien macroalgal flora of the Ustica Island Marine Protected Area (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Mannino ◽  
Maria Gambi ◽  
Tiziana Dieli ◽  
Paola Gianguzza
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea

scholarly journals Stepped Coastal Water Warming Revealed by Multiparametric Monitoring at NW Mediterranean Fixed Stations

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 2658
Author(s):  
Nixon Bahamon ◽  
Jacopo Aguzzi ◽  
Miguel Ángel Ahumada-Sempoal ◽  
Raffaele Bernardello ◽  
Charlotte Reuschel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Submarine Canyon ◽  
Warming Trend ◽  
Coastal Ecosystems ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Surface Heat Fluxes

Since 2014, the global land and sea surface temperature has scaled 0.23 °C above the decadal average (2009–2018). Reports indicate that Mediterranean Sea temperatures have been rising at faster rates than in the global ocean. Oceanographic time series of physical and biogeochemical data collected from an onboard and a multisensor mooring array in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea (Blanes submarine canyon, Balearic Sea) during 2009–2018 revealed an abrupt temperature rising since 2014, in line with regional and global warming. Since 2014, the oligotrophic conditions of the water column have intensified, with temperature increasing 0.61 °C on the surface and 0.47 °C in the whole water column in continental shelf waters. Water transparency has increased due to a decrease in turbidity anomaly of −0.1 FTU. Since 2013, inshore chlorophyll a concentration remained below the average (−0.15 mg·l−1) and silicates showed a declining trend. The mixed layer depth showed deepening in winter and remained steady in summer. The net surface heat fluxes did not show any trend linked to the local warming, probably due to the influence of incoming offshore waters produced by the interaction between the Northern Current and the submarine canyon. Present regional and global water heating pattern is increasing the stress of highly diverse coastal ecosystems at unprecedented levels, as reported by the literature. The strengthening of the oligotrophic conditions in the study area may also apply as a cautionary warning to similar coastal ecosystems around the world following the global warming trend.

Homing and home range of the European spiny lobster, Palinurus elephas (Decapoda, Palinuridae) acoustically tracked

Crustaceana ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-476
Author(s):  
Vincenzo M. Giacalone ◽  
Arturo Zenone ◽  
Fabio Badalamenti ◽  
Javier Ciancio ◽  
Gaspare Buffa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
High Spatial Resolution ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Ultrasonic Telemetry ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
First Time ◽  
Palinurus Elephas

Abstract A specific study has been carried out for the first time to investigate the homing capability and daily home range of the spiny lobster Palinurus elephas by means of ultrasonic telemetry. Nine lobsters collected in the Capo Gallo — Isola delle Femmine marine protected area (northwestern Sicily, central Mediterranean) were tagged with miniaturized transmitters and released at a single site inside the protected area. The lobsters were monitored with the purpose of calculating their horizontal and vertical positions, analysing their movement patterns to assess their homing capability, and calculating their daily home range. Five lobsters moved back close to the capture sites within the first 20 hours after release (‘homed’). The remaining four lobsters ‘relocated’ to a different refuge. Homed lobsters had a larger home range than relocated lobsters. This study provides the first description of a homing pattern with high spatial resolution in the wild European spiny lobster as inferred by ultrasonic telemetry.

scholarly journals Assessing interacting impacts of artisanal and recreational fisheries in a small Marine Protected Area (Portofino, NW Mediterranean Sea)

Ecosphere ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Prato ◽  
Celine Barrier ◽  
Patrice Francour ◽  
Valentina Cappanera ◽  
Vasiliki Markantonatou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Recreational Fisheries ◽  
Nw Mediterranean ◽  
Nw Mediterranean Sea

Paramuricea clavata (Anthozoa, Octocorallia) loss in the Marine Protected Area of Tavolara (Sardinia, Italy) due to a mass mortality event

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Huete-Stauffer ◽  
Ilaria Vielmini ◽  
Marco Palma ◽  
Augusto Navone ◽  
Pier Panzalis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protected Area ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Mass Mortality ◽  
Mortality Event ◽  
Mass Mortality Event ◽  
Paramuricea Clavata

scholarly journals Assessment of coastal fish assemblages before the establishment of a new marine protected area in central Mediterranean: its role in formulating zoning proposal

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. LA MESA ◽  
E. SALVATI ◽  
S. AGNESI ◽  
L. TUNESI
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Scuba Diving ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Total Density ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Italian Law ◽  
Depth Ranges

The fish assemblages of the coastal area of the promontory of Cape Milazzo (Italy, Central Mediterranean), which has been recently designated by the Italian Law to become a national marine protected area (MPA), were characterized by visual censuses carried out over different habitats (rocky algal reef, Posidonia oceanica meadow and soft bottom) and depth ranges (0-3, 4-7, 12-16 and 24-30 m) to identify areas of major concern for the MPA zoning. The study area was divided into 6 sectors to assess spatial-related differences in the assemblage parameters, such as species composition and richness, and the size structure of species of recreational (e.g. SCUBA diving) interest. Fifty-eight taxa (56 species and 2 genera) and 20 families of fishes were totally recorded. Species composition was significantly affected by habitat and depth, whereas no significant changes were detected among sectors. Conversely, species richness and total density of fish showed no significant differences among sectors, habitat types and depth ranges. The majority of species of recreational value was recorded only off the northwestern part of the promontory. The implementation of fishing ban in such an area, characterized by the presence of a rocky bank, would contribute to the recovery of populations of some emblematic species (e.g. groupers and other large predator) and to the enhancement of environmentally sustainable activities such as scuba diving. Throughout the investigated area and, especially, in the eastern and southwestern coasts of the promontory, several species were almost exclusively represented by small and medium sized individuals, a likely consequence of an intense fishing pressure.

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