Human activities trigger change in marine landscape

doi:10.7320/flmedit28.295

Abstract

Highlights

The Mediterranean Sea, even though representing a small part of the world’s oceans, is inhabited by an unusually rich and diverse biota
The Mediterranean Sea is considered as a true hotspot of biodiversity (Bianchi & Morri 2000; Boudouresque 2004; Coll & al. 2010), even by virtue of the high rates of endemic species it supports (25%, Boudouresque 2004), for instance the neo‐endemism Cystoseira genus, considered a key‐stone genus with 30 endemic species into the Mediterranean (Cormaci & al. 2012) and the paleo‐endemism Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile
The research criteria were based on a list of key terms such as “Posidonia oceanica” or “Cystoseira” or “Cystoseira canopies” or “Fucales” and “status” or “decline” or “regression” or “recovery” and “human impact” or “pressure” or “threat” and “restoration” or “transplantation” or “reforestation” and “Mediterranean Sea” or “Sicilian”

Summary

Introduction

The Mediterranean Sea, even though representing a small part of the world’s oceans, is inhabited by an unusually rich and diverse biota. The Mediterranean Sea is considered as a true hotspot of biodiversity 2010), even by virtue of the high rates of endemic species it supports (25%, Boudouresque 2004), for instance the neo‐endemism (of Pliocenic origin) Cystoseira genus, considered a key‐stone genus with 30 endemic species into the Mediterranean The Mediterranean is currently experiencing a decline in the number of species and a deterioration of habitats, related to increase of human population, habitat modification and loss, pollution, coastal urbanization, overexploitation and the intentional or indirect introduction of Non-Indigenous Species (NIS, i.e. organisms introduced outside of their natural range) and climate changes, i.e. acidification and warming (Coll & al. 2010; Lejeusne & al. 2010; Zenetos & al. 2012; Katsanevakis & al. 2013; Bianchi & al. 2014)

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