only the specific ecological requirements but also information about different methodologies to perform efficient species conservation, such us in vitro propagation,
seed germination, planting techniques, and so on, are still sparse. All this information could be used to perform mathematical modeling to assess highly favorable sites
for various species. Careful site selection for restoration is essential for transplantation to succeed, even though the marine ecosystem represents a highly complex
environment presenting many variables that escape control by the researcher. Once a
site is selected as a function of environmental conditions, then natural storms,
currents, and grazers are the most common factors that have to be considered. Future
management models necessarily must incorporate the authorities’ goal of enhancing
the investment by promoting high-quality research focusing on marine restoration.
Moreover, marine ecosystem restoration should not be only focused on angiosperm
species but also on endemic and/or key ecological species such as canopy-forming
algae species.
Climatic change, pollution, overfishing, and recurrent invasions of non-native
species in the Mediterranean constitute the major threats for these species at present.
In this sense, prevention of non-native species invasions, early-warning systems, and
the maintenance of a good ecological marine status may be crucial for seaweed and
seagrass conservation in the Alboran Sea.
8.7 Main Threat to the Benthic Flora of the Alboran Sea
The Alboran Sea is not immune from the loss of biodiversity that is occurring on a
global scale, without any signs of deceleration. Pressures on the environment in
general, and the sea in particular, have increased in recent decades, and efforts to
control this loss of biodiversity have been inappropriate in most cases. Some authors
have not hesitated to call this Anthropocene event the “sixth extinction.” In the case
of marine plant communities, this loss of biodiversity translates not only into the loss
of species but also drastic changes that affect the relationships among them and the
structural and functional simplification of the community. The result is the development of very homogenous communities with a low structural and functional organization. The marine macroalgae and angiosperms, and the communities to which
they give rise, have an important bioindicator characteristic (Sánchez Castillo 2006;
Templado et al. 2012), which makes these plant formations of special relevance as a
management tool for marine natural spaces. The conservation of these communities
is essential.
Among the different threats to which the marine communities are subjected, the
destruction of habitats is undoubtedly the first cause of biodiversity loss. This loss of
habitats has various origins such as coastal installations (ports, dams, breakwaters,
roads, wastewater outfalls) or illegal trawler fishing, which is the main cause of
regression of seagrass meadows. Special mention is deserved in this section to the
work of regeneration of beaches, so common at certain sites of the European littoral
of the Alboran Sea. These activities cause a very significant increase in the turbidity
276
A. Flores-Moya et al.
seed germination, planting techniques, and so on, are still sparse. All this information could be used to perform mathematical modeling to assess highly favorable sites
for various species. Careful site selection for restoration is essential for transplantation to succeed, even though the marine ecosystem represents a highly complex
environment presenting many variables that escape control by the researcher. Once a
site is selected as a function of environmental conditions, then natural storms,
currents, and grazers are the most common factors that have to be considered. Future
management models necessarily must incorporate the authorities’ goal of enhancing
the investment by promoting high-quality research focusing on marine restoration.
Moreover, marine ecosystem restoration should not be only focused on angiosperm
species but also on endemic and/or key ecological species such as canopy-forming
algae species.
Climatic change, pollution, overfishing, and recurrent invasions of non-native
species in the Mediterranean constitute the major threats for these species at present.
In this sense, prevention of non-native species invasions, early-warning systems, and
the maintenance of a good ecological marine status may be crucial for seaweed and
seagrass conservation in the Alboran Sea.
8.7 Main Threat to the Benthic Flora of the Alboran Sea
The Alboran Sea is not immune from the loss of biodiversity that is occurring on a
global scale, without any signs of deceleration. Pressures on the environment in
general, and the sea in particular, have increased in recent decades, and efforts to
control this loss of biodiversity have been inappropriate in most cases. Some authors
have not hesitated to call this Anthropocene event the “sixth extinction.” In the case
of marine plant communities, this loss of biodiversity translates not only into the loss
of species but also drastic changes that affect the relationships among them and the
structural and functional simplification of the community. The result is the development of very homogenous communities with a low structural and functional organization. The marine macroalgae and angiosperms, and the communities to which
they give rise, have an important bioindicator characteristic (Sánchez Castillo 2006;
Templado et al. 2012), which makes these plant formations of special relevance as a
management tool for marine natural spaces. The conservation of these communities
is essential.
Among the different threats to which the marine communities are subjected, the
destruction of habitats is undoubtedly the first cause of biodiversity loss. This loss of
habitats has various origins such as coastal installations (ports, dams, breakwaters,
roads, wastewater outfalls) or illegal trawler fishing, which is the main cause of
regression of seagrass meadows. Special mention is deserved in this section to the
work of regeneration of beaches, so common at certain sites of the European littoral
of the Alboran Sea. These activities cause a very significant increase in the turbidity
276
A. Flores-Moya et al.