Advances in Egyptian Mediterranean Coast Climate Change Monitoring

Matteo Gentilucci,Abdelraouf A Moustafa,Gilberto Pambianchi,Samira R Mansour,Maria Rosaria Coppola,Lidia Caserta,Fagr Kh Abdel-Gawad,Sara Inglese,Giulia Guerriero

doi:10.3390/w13131870

Abstract

This paper characterizes non-indigenous fish species (NIS) and analyses both atmospheric and sea surface temperatures for the Mediterranean coast of Egypt from 1991 to 2020, in relation to previous reports in the same areas. Taxonomical characterization depicts 47 NIS from the Suez Canal (Lessepsian/alien) and 5 from the Atlantic provenance. GenBank accession number of the NIS mitochondrial gene, cytochrome oxidase 1, reproductive and commercial biodata, and a schematic Inkscape drawing for the most harmful Lessepsian species were reported. For sea surface temperatures (SST), an increase of 1.2 °C to 1.6 °C was observed using GIS software. The lack of linear correlation between annual air temperature and annual SST at the same detection points (Pearson r) could suggest a difference in submarine currents, whereas the Pettitt homogeneity test highlights a temperature breakpoint in 2005–2006 that may have favoured the settlement of non-indigenous fauna in the coastal sites of Damiette, El Arish, El Hammam, Alexandria, El Alamain, and Mersa Matruh, while there seems to be a breakpoint present in 2001 for El Sallum. This assessment of climate trends is in good agreement with the previous sightings of non-native fish species. New insights into the assessment of Egyptian coastal climate change are discussed.

Highlights

As known, the average global temperature has increased by 0.74 ◦ C in the last100 years
It would certainly be very important for environmental sustainability to know the relationships between rising temperatures and non-indigenous fish species (NIS) invasions
A time period of 30 years (1991–2020) was investigated, which is statistically significant and comparable with other observations in other parts of the world, because we are referring to a standard period established by the World

Summary

Introduction

The average global temperature has increased by 0.74 ◦ C in the last100 years. Shifting seasonal changes, which are already being recorded in most temperate regions, affect the timing of animal migrations and the flowering of plants [7], and destabilize the equilibrium of ecosystems that are geographically far apart. According to Seppälä [9], the impact of average global temperature rise on habitats and species will depend on many factors, including local topography [10], changes in ocean currents, wind and rainfall patterns, and changing albedo. Rainfall patterns may likewise be affected in terms of overall annual quantity, seasonal distribution of precipitation, and year-to-year regularity [12]. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, are expected to occur more frequently. As far as biological aspects, there has been much proof of physiological change in antioxidants, as well as steroid receptor defenses, affecting biodiversity [18,19,20,21,22]

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