Abstract
The marine benthic cartography of the Cap de Creus and surrounding areas (NW Mediterranean Sea) was obtained by combining classical grabbing methods with more recent imaging methods based on a remotely operated vehicle. The goals of this particular survey can be summarized as follows: 1) to chart the benthic communities (and the area of each one); 2) to evaluate the benthic diversity of the areas; 3) to produce visual documentation of the distributions of the benthic organisms; 4) to identify human-induced pressures on the benthic environment; 5) to make recommendations for future management based on the visual assessment; and 6) to set up a new methodology for making large biocenosis maps that would help to manage marine protected and non-protected areas. The marine environment off the Alt Emporda County was shown to have a very rich diversity of benthic habitats. Twenty community categories were identified from videos and grabs. Though benthic habitats mostly located inside a marine protected area were assessed, man-made objects were seen in 10% of the analyzed minutes filmed. The study led to a comprehensive review of the main biotope systems of this coastal area, as well as their environmental condition, and this will be an essential element for their future management.
Highlights
Natural ecosystems and landscapes that provide benefits to human society are of great ecological, socio-cultural and economic value (Costanza et al 1997, de Groot et al 2002)
This area can be divided into 3 main zones: the area located off the Els Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park in the Gulf of Roses (Sant Pere Pescador and Sant Martí d’Empúries), the area located off the Cap de Creus (Roses, Cadaqués and El Port de la Selva), and the area located in the northern part of the cape, off the Marenda region (Llançà, Colera and Portbou)
For every minute, following the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) positioning, we introduced in the geographic information systems (GIS) the bionomic classification seen in the videos under the expert judgement criteria; the possibility of finding 2 different identified communities in the same minute based on expert judgement was allowed for in locations where benthic community discontinuities were observed
Summary
Natural ecosystems and landscapes that provide benefits to human society are of great ecological, socio-cultural and economic value (Costanza et al 1997, de Groot et al 2002). Wastelands, with the loss of most of their natural values Because this is traditional behaviour, we should consider, first, the extent to which we should establish limits for these changing processes and, second, where we should place such limits and what information is required in order to solve the problem. Within this context, there is an urgent need to develop a rational baseline to protect the natural capital of a region. The characterization of the terrestrial and marine benthic habitats is essential information for discussing the ecological, sociological and economical values of protected and non-protected areas (Aburto-Oropeza et al 2008)
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