Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)

This study analyzes 1980–2020 landings data from three Mediterranean coastal lagoons—the Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio Lagoons (NW Greece) and the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain)—to assess ecosystem changes and fishing pressure dynamics. The findings classify these systems as low-yielding, with productivi...

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Main Authors: Theodore Zoulias, Angel Pérez-Ruzafa, Alexis Conides, Concepción Marcos, Sofia Reizopoulou, Dimitris Vafidis, Dimitris Klaoudatos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Ecologies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/2/35
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author Theodore Zoulias
Angel Pérez-Ruzafa
Alexis Conides
Concepción Marcos
Sofia Reizopoulou
Dimitris Vafidis
Dimitris Klaoudatos
author_facet Theodore Zoulias
Angel Pérez-Ruzafa
Alexis Conides
Concepción Marcos
Sofia Reizopoulou
Dimitris Vafidis
Dimitris Klaoudatos
author_sort Theodore Zoulias
collection DOAJ
description This study analyzes 1980–2020 landings data from three Mediterranean coastal lagoons—the Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio Lagoons (NW Greece) and the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain)—to assess ecosystem changes and fishing pressure dynamics. The findings classify these systems as low-yielding, with productivity ranked as follows: Yield Logarou > Yield Rodia-Tsoukalio = Yield Mar Menor. Mean trophic level analysis (mTrL) revealed significant differences driven by the contribution of detritivorous and mid-level carnivorous species (TrL Mar Menor > TrL Rodia-Tsoukalio > TrL Logarou). The fishing pressure indices suggest reduced fishing intensity in the Greek lagoons, while in Mar Menor, a stable Fisheries in Balance (FiB) trend corresponded with stable yields despite eutrophication. Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) linked ecosystem differences to sediment characteristics and changes in habitat structure. These results underscore a transition of Mediterranean coastal lagoons toward new ecological states, highlighting the urgent need for habitat conservation and adaptive management strategies to ensure sustainable fisheries under increasing environmental pressures. These findings may be extrapolated to similar transitional coastal ecosystems facing comparable anthropogenic stressors worldwide, providing a broader framework for understanding and managing lagoon systems under changing environmental conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-ad8ddbd79d6b42cc82ea830e09d3d86d2025-08-20T03:24:39ZengMDPI AGEcologies2673-41332025-05-01623510.3390/ecologies6020035Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)Theodore Zoulias0Angel Pérez-Ruzafa1Alexis Conides2Concepción Marcos3Sofia Reizopoulou4Dimitris Vafidis5Dimitris Klaoudatos6Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Anavyssos, 19013 Attica, GreeceDepartment of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘’Mare Nostrum’’, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, SpainInstitute of Marine Biological Resources & Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Anavyssos, 19013 Attica, GreeceDepartment of Ecology and Hydrology, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘’Mare Nostrum’’, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, SpainInstitute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Anavyssos, 19013 Attica, GreeceDepartment of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment (DIAE), School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly (UTh), Fytokou Street, 38446 Volos, GreeceDepartment of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment (DIAE), School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly (UTh), Fytokou Street, 38446 Volos, GreeceThis study analyzes 1980–2020 landings data from three Mediterranean coastal lagoons—the Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio Lagoons (NW Greece) and the Mar Menor Lagoon (SE Spain)—to assess ecosystem changes and fishing pressure dynamics. The findings classify these systems as low-yielding, with productivity ranked as follows: Yield Logarou > Yield Rodia-Tsoukalio = Yield Mar Menor. Mean trophic level analysis (mTrL) revealed significant differences driven by the contribution of detritivorous and mid-level carnivorous species (TrL Mar Menor > TrL Rodia-Tsoukalio > TrL Logarou). The fishing pressure indices suggest reduced fishing intensity in the Greek lagoons, while in Mar Menor, a stable Fisheries in Balance (FiB) trend corresponded with stable yields despite eutrophication. Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) linked ecosystem differences to sediment characteristics and changes in habitat structure. These results underscore a transition of Mediterranean coastal lagoons toward new ecological states, highlighting the urgent need for habitat conservation and adaptive management strategies to ensure sustainable fisheries under increasing environmental pressures. These findings may be extrapolated to similar transitional coastal ecosystems facing comparable anthropogenic stressors worldwide, providing a broader framework for understanding and managing lagoon systems under changing environmental conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/2/35Mediterranean lagoonstime series dataecosystem changeenvironmental stressorsmean trophic levelfisheries in balance
spellingShingle Theodore Zoulias
Angel Pérez-Ruzafa
Alexis Conides
Concepción Marcos
Sofia Reizopoulou
Dimitris Vafidis
Dimitris Klaoudatos
Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)
Ecologies
Mediterranean lagoons
time series data
ecosystem change
environmental stressors
mean trophic level
fisheries in balance
title Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)
title_full Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)
title_fullStr Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)
title_full_unstemmed Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)
title_short Temporal Changes in Fishing Yields, Trophic Dynamics, and Fisheries in Three Mediterranean Lagoons: Logarou and Rodia-Tsoukalio (Greece) and Mar Menor (Spain)
title_sort temporal changes in fishing yields trophic dynamics and fisheries in three mediterranean lagoons logarou and rodia tsoukalio greece and mar menor spain
topic Mediterranean lagoons
time series data
ecosystem change
environmental stressors
mean trophic level
fisheries in balance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/2/35
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