Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages
IntroductionCoastal detrital bottoms (CDB) are one of the most extensive habitats of the continental shelf worldwide, in the upper levels of the circalittoral zone. Hosting a diverse community structured by sediment grain size, trophic interactions and calcified organisms, CDB exhibit important ecol...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| author | Patrick Astruch Ameline Orts Thomas Schohn Bruno Belloni Enric Ballesteros Daniela Bănaru Carlo Nike Bianchi Carlo Nike Bianchi Charles-François Boudouresque Thomas Changeux Pierre Chevaldonné Jean-Georges Harmelin Noëmie Michez Noëmie Michez Briac Monnier Carla Morri Carla Morri Thierry Thibaut Marc Verlaque Boris Daniel |
| author_facet | Patrick Astruch Ameline Orts Thomas Schohn Bruno Belloni Enric Ballesteros Daniela Bănaru Carlo Nike Bianchi Carlo Nike Bianchi Charles-François Boudouresque Thomas Changeux Pierre Chevaldonné Jean-Georges Harmelin Noëmie Michez Noëmie Michez Briac Monnier Carla Morri Carla Morri Thierry Thibaut Marc Verlaque Boris Daniel |
| author_sort | Patrick Astruch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionCoastal detrital bottoms (CDB) are one of the most extensive habitats of the continental shelf worldwide, in the upper levels of the circalittoral zone. Hosting a diverse community structured by sediment grain size, trophic interactions and calcified organisms, CDB exhibit important ecological functions. In the Mediterranean Sea, CDB are constituted by recent elements partly provided by adjacent infralittoral and circalittoral ecosystems. Since the 2010s, the offshore extension of many Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has resulted in the incorporation of vast areas of CDB, raising the issue of their management. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has embraced the concept of an ecosystem-based approach involving taking into account the functioning of marine habitats and their related ecosystem services. The purpose of this paper is to propose an ecosystem-based quality index (EBQI) tested on CDB from the north-western Mediterranean Sea, focusing mainly on epibenthic assemblages.MethodsThe first step has been to define a conceptual model of the CDB functioning, including the main trophic compartments and their relative weighting, then to identify appropriate assessment methods and potential descriptors. Twenty-nine sites were sampled along the coast of Provence and French Riviera (Southern France). Study sites were chosen with a view to encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions and human pressures.ResultsVery well-preserved sites were found in Provence in areas without trawling and terrigenous inputs, while impacted and low-ES sites were located in the vicinity of urbanized areas. The cover of rhodoliths characterizes the seascape and might be an indicator of the good ES of CDB and reduced human pressure. However, the absence of rhodoliths may also be induced by natural phenomena.DiscussionThe EBQI designed for CDB proved representative and useful for a functional assessment based on epibenthic assemblages. However, some descriptors have shown their limitations and should be further explored. We highlight here the priority of establishing an index corresponding to a societal demand (e.g., European Directives, Barcelona convention) as a basis for a broad and large-scale assessment, for practical reasons. We stress the need to better apprehend the role of the macro-infauna and to extend this index over a wider geographical scale. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b9ff714528e44948947861ca52153b45 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-b9ff714528e44948947861ca52153b452025-08-20T03:46:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452023-03-011010.3389/fmars.2023.11305401130540Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblagesPatrick Astruch0Ameline Orts1Thomas Schohn2Bruno Belloni3Enric Ballesteros4Daniela Bănaru5Carlo Nike Bianchi6Carlo Nike Bianchi7Charles-François Boudouresque8Thomas Changeux9Pierre Chevaldonné10Jean-Georges Harmelin11Noëmie Michez12Noëmie Michez13Briac Monnier14Carla Morri15Carla Morri16Thierry Thibaut17Marc Verlaque18Boris Daniel19Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique (GIS) Posidonie, Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers (OSU) Pythéas, Marseille, FranceGroupement d'Intérêt Scientifique (GIS) Posidonie, Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers (OSU) Pythéas, Marseille, FranceGroupement d'Intérêt Scientifique (GIS) Posidonie, Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers (OSU) Pythéas, Marseille, FranceGroupement d'Intérêt Scientifique (GIS) Posidonie, Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers (OSU) Pythéas, Marseille, FranceCenter for Advenced Studies of Blanes, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) Blanes, Girona, SpainAix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) Marseille, FranceSeascape Ecology Laboratory, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DiSTAV), University of Genoa, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn–National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre (GMC), Genova, ItalyAix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) Marseille, FranceAix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) Marseille, FranceInstitut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Aix-Marseille University, Avignon University, Station Marine d’Endoume, Marseille, FranceGroupement d'Intérêt Scientifique (GIS) Posidonie, Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers (OSU) Pythéas, Marseille, FranceNatural Marine Park of the Gulf of Lion, Argelès-sur-mer, FranceFrench Office for Biodiversity, Vincennes, FranceUniversité de Corse Pasquale Paoli, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 6134 Science pour l'Environnement (SPE), Corte, FranceSeascape Ecology Laboratory, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DiSTAV), University of Genoa, Genova, ItalyDepartment of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn–National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre (GMC), Genova, ItalyAix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) Marseille, FranceAix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) Marseille, FranceFrench Office for Biodiversity, Vincennes, FranceIntroductionCoastal detrital bottoms (CDB) are one of the most extensive habitats of the continental shelf worldwide, in the upper levels of the circalittoral zone. Hosting a diverse community structured by sediment grain size, trophic interactions and calcified organisms, CDB exhibit important ecological functions. In the Mediterranean Sea, CDB are constituted by recent elements partly provided by adjacent infralittoral and circalittoral ecosystems. Since the 2010s, the offshore extension of many Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has resulted in the incorporation of vast areas of CDB, raising the issue of their management. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has embraced the concept of an ecosystem-based approach involving taking into account the functioning of marine habitats and their related ecosystem services. The purpose of this paper is to propose an ecosystem-based quality index (EBQI) tested on CDB from the north-western Mediterranean Sea, focusing mainly on epibenthic assemblages.MethodsThe first step has been to define a conceptual model of the CDB functioning, including the main trophic compartments and their relative weighting, then to identify appropriate assessment methods and potential descriptors. Twenty-nine sites were sampled along the coast of Provence and French Riviera (Southern France). Study sites were chosen with a view to encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions and human pressures.ResultsVery well-preserved sites were found in Provence in areas without trawling and terrigenous inputs, while impacted and low-ES sites were located in the vicinity of urbanized areas. The cover of rhodoliths characterizes the seascape and might be an indicator of the good ES of CDB and reduced human pressure. However, the absence of rhodoliths may also be induced by natural phenomena.DiscussionThe EBQI designed for CDB proved representative and useful for a functional assessment based on epibenthic assemblages. However, some descriptors have shown their limitations and should be further explored. We highlight here the priority of establishing an index corresponding to a societal demand (e.g., European Directives, Barcelona convention) as a basis for a broad and large-scale assessment, for practical reasons. We stress the need to better apprehend the role of the macro-infauna and to extend this index over a wider geographical scale.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1130540/fullcoastal detrital bottomsecosystem-based approach (EBA)quality assessmentmarine habitatrhodolith bedsepibenthic assemblages |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Astruch Ameline Orts Thomas Schohn Bruno Belloni Enric Ballesteros Daniela Bănaru Carlo Nike Bianchi Carlo Nike Bianchi Charles-François Boudouresque Thomas Changeux Pierre Chevaldonné Jean-Georges Harmelin Noëmie Michez Noëmie Michez Briac Monnier Carla Morri Carla Morri Thierry Thibaut Marc Verlaque Boris Daniel Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages Frontiers in Marine Science coastal detrital bottoms ecosystem-based approach (EBA) quality assessment marine habitat rhodolith beds epibenthic assemblages |
| title | Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages |
| title_full | Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages |
| title_fullStr | Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages |
| title_short | Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages |
| title_sort | ecosystem based assessment of a widespread mediterranean marine habitat the coastal detrital bottoms with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages |
| topic | coastal detrital bottoms ecosystem-based approach (EBA) quality assessment marine habitat rhodolith beds epibenthic assemblages |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1130540/full |
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