What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats
Mesophotic ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea are biodiversity hotspots distributed from ca 30 m down to 180 m, depending upon the depth of the light compensation point. Overall, the taxonomic composition of Mediterranean mesophotic ecosystems is dominated by corals and sponges, with subordinate br...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033 https://doaj.org/article/bcc1baae0a2d48aeaf05b39c2152766a |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:bcc1baae0a2d48aeaf05b39c2152766a 2023-05-15T17:51:27+02:00 What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats G. Castellan M. Abbiati L. Angeletti F. Foglini V. Grande P. Montagna M. Taviani 2022-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033 https://doaj.org/article/bcc1baae0a2d48aeaf05b39c2152766a EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-665X 2296-665X doi:10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033 https://doaj.org/article/bcc1baae0a2d48aeaf05b39c2152766a Frontiers in Environmental Science, Vol 10 (2022) marine conservation biodiversity policy mesophotic ecosystems monitoring Mediterranean Sea Environmental sciences GE1-350 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033 2022-12-30T19:45:23Z Mesophotic ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea are biodiversity hotspots distributed from ca 30 m down to 180 m, depending upon the depth of the light compensation point. Overall, the taxonomic composition of Mediterranean mesophotic ecosystems is dominated by corals and sponges, with subordinate bryozoans, mollusks, ascidians, and shade-adapted algae. As for most marine ecosystems, the mesophotic habitats are increasingly exposed to natural and anthropogenic threats, including seawater-temperature rise, more intense and frequent heat waves, progressive ocean acidification, fishing activities, and littering. The establishment of effective governance guidelines is, therefore, the necessary rationale to guarantee the good environmental status of such widespread, highly diverse, service-provider natural resources. However, an in-depth quantification of the extent to which Mediterranean mesophotic habitats and taxa are included in conservation measures is lacking. In this article, we review the available literature information on mesophotic habitats in the Mediterranean Sea to evaluate the efficiency of the current legislative framework in providing instruments to protect this natural heritage. Our analysis allows identifying gaps in the current conservation network, ultimately suggesting functional integrative actions for effective conservation measures and the long-term survival of the Mediterranean mesophotic ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Ocean acidification Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Environmental Science 10 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
marine conservation biodiversity policy mesophotic ecosystems monitoring Mediterranean Sea Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
spellingShingle |
marine conservation biodiversity policy mesophotic ecosystems monitoring Mediterranean Sea Environmental sciences GE1-350 G. Castellan M. Abbiati L. Angeletti F. Foglini V. Grande P. Montagna M. Taviani What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats |
topic_facet |
marine conservation biodiversity policy mesophotic ecosystems monitoring Mediterranean Sea Environmental sciences GE1-350 |
description |
Mesophotic ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea are biodiversity hotspots distributed from ca 30 m down to 180 m, depending upon the depth of the light compensation point. Overall, the taxonomic composition of Mediterranean mesophotic ecosystems is dominated by corals and sponges, with subordinate bryozoans, mollusks, ascidians, and shade-adapted algae. As for most marine ecosystems, the mesophotic habitats are increasingly exposed to natural and anthropogenic threats, including seawater-temperature rise, more intense and frequent heat waves, progressive ocean acidification, fishing activities, and littering. The establishment of effective governance guidelines is, therefore, the necessary rationale to guarantee the good environmental status of such widespread, highly diverse, service-provider natural resources. However, an in-depth quantification of the extent to which Mediterranean mesophotic habitats and taxa are included in conservation measures is lacking. In this article, we review the available literature information on mesophotic habitats in the Mediterranean Sea to evaluate the efficiency of the current legislative framework in providing instruments to protect this natural heritage. Our analysis allows identifying gaps in the current conservation network, ultimately suggesting functional integrative actions for effective conservation measures and the long-term survival of the Mediterranean mesophotic ecosystems. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
G. Castellan M. Abbiati L. Angeletti F. Foglini V. Grande P. Montagna M. Taviani |
author_facet |
G. Castellan M. Abbiati L. Angeletti F. Foglini V. Grande P. Montagna M. Taviani |
author_sort |
G. Castellan |
title |
What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats |
title_short |
What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats |
title_full |
What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats |
title_fullStr |
What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats |
title_full_unstemmed |
What are we protecting? An analysis of the current conservation framework addressing Mediterranean mesophotic habitats |
title_sort |
what are we protecting? an analysis of the current conservation framework addressing mediterranean mesophotic habitats |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033 https://doaj.org/article/bcc1baae0a2d48aeaf05b39c2152766a |
genre |
Ocean acidification |
genre_facet |
Ocean acidification |
op_source |
Frontiers in Environmental Science, Vol 10 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-665X 2296-665X doi:10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033 https://doaj.org/article/bcc1baae0a2d48aeaf05b39c2152766a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.1009033 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Environmental Science |
container_volume |
10 |
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1766158589482762240 |