Transitional Ecosystems Along the Aegean Sea Coastline of Greece

Abstract

Transitional ecosystems along the Aegean coastline are formed at the interface between land and sea, connecting the terrestrial and marine environment. They are grouped in four major types: coastal marshes, coastal lagoons, river mouths/estuaries, and river deltas. Along the Aegean coastline, in continental Greece, we identified and mapped 254 large and small coastal wetlands; they cover approximately 60,000 ha. Around half of all coastal wetlands (138 out of 254) are smaller than 8 ha. In terms of surface area, river deltas and lagoons dominate. In terms of numbers, estuaries and coastal marshes prevail. Coastal wetlands are of high importance to biodiversity and offer a variety of ecosystem services. The most significant ones are designated as Ramsar sites, and their vast majority are included in the Natura 2000 network (90% of their surface area). In terms of numbers of sites, a high proportion is found outside the Natura 2000 network (68%, 173 out of 254). This study has offered increased knowledge on coastal wetlands in order to guide their conservation and to foster further research, information, and awareness.