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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
The Mediterranean Sea under siege: Spatial overlap between marine biodiversity, cumulative threats and marine reserves
Global Ecology and Biogeography, Volume 21, No. 4, Year 2012
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Description
Aim A large body of knowledge exists on individual anthropogenic threats that have an impact on marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea, although we know little about how these threats accumulate and interact to affect marine species and ecosystems. In this context, we aimed to identify the main areas where the interaction between marine biodiversity and threats is more pronounced and to assess their spatial overlap with current marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. Location Mediterranean Sea. Methods We first identified areas of high biodiversity of marine mammals, marine turtles, seabirds, fishes and commercial or well-documented invertebrates. We mapped potential areas of high threat where multiple threats are occurring simultaneously. Finally we quantified the areas of conservation concern for biodiversity by looking at the spatial overlap between high biodiversity and high cumulative threats, and we assessed the overlap with protected areas. Results Our results show that areas with high marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea are mainly located along the central and north shores, with lower values in the south-eastern regions. Areas of potential high cumulative threats are widespread in both the western and eastern basins, with fewer areas located in the south-eastern region. The interaction between areas of high biodiversity and threats for invertebrates, fishes and large animals in general (including large fishes, marine mammals, marine turtles and seabirds) is concentrated in the coastal areas of Spain, Gulf of Lions, north-eastern Ligurian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, south-eastern Turkey and regions surrounding the Nile Delta and north-west African coasts. Areas of concern are larger for marine mammal and seabird species. Main conclusions These areas may represent good candidates for further research, management and protection activities, since there is only a maximum 2% overlap between existing marine protected areas (which cover 5% of the Mediterranean Sea) and our predicted areas of conservation concern for biodiversity. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Coll, Marta
Spain, Barcelona
Csic - Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar Icm
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Piroddi, Chiara
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Albouy, Camille
France, Sete
Marbec Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation
Ben Rais Lasram, Frida
Tunisia, Tunis
University of Carthage, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie
Cheung, William W.L.
United Kingdom, Norwich
University of East Anglia
United Kingdom, Lowestoft
Centre for the Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
Christensen, Villy
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Karpouzi, Vasiliki
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Guilhaumon, François
France, Sete
Marbec Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation
Portugal, Evora
University of Évora
Mouillot, David
France, Sete
Marbec Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation
Australia, Townsville
James Cook University
Paleczny, Michelle
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Palomares, Maria Lourdes D.
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Steenbeek, Jeroen G.
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Trujillo, Pablo
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Watson, Reg A.
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Pauly, Daniel
Canada, Vancouver
The University of British Columbia
Statistics
Citations: 529
Authors: 15
Affiliations: 8
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1466-8238.2011.00697.x
ISSN:
1466822X
e-ISSN:
14668238