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Title: | Action plan for the conservation of habitats and species associated with seamounts, underwater caves and canyons, aphotic hard beds and chemo-synthetic phenomena in the Mediterranean Sea (Dark Habitats action plan) |
Authors: | Aguilar, Ricardo Ballesteros, Enric Bazairi, Hocein Bianchi, Carlo Nike Bitar, Ghazi Borg, Joseph A. Chevaldonne, Pierre Daniel, Boris Gerovasileiou, Vasilis Harmelin, Jean-Georges Mastrototaro, Francesco Ouerghi, Atef Perez, Thierry Pergent-Martini, Christine Sartoretto, Stephane Schembri, Patrick J. Tilot, Virginie Tunesi, Leonardo Vacelet, Jean |
Keywords: | Marine habitat conservation Marine ecosystem management Marine habitats -- Mediterranean Sea |
Issue Date: | 2015 |
Publisher: | United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Mediterranean Action Plan - Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA) |
Citation: | Aguilar, R., Ballesteros, E., Bazairi, H., Bianchi, C. N., Bitar, G., Borg, J. A., ...Vacelet, J. (2015). Action plan for the conservation of habitats and species associated with seamounts, underwater caves and canyons, aphotic hard beds and chemo-synthetic phenomena in the Mediterranean Sea (Dark Habitats action plan). Tunis: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Mediterranean Action Plan - Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA). 17. |
Abstract: | Dark habitats are environments where the luminosity is extremely weak, or even absent (aphotic area) leading to an absence of macroscopic autochthonous photosynthesis. The bathymetric extension of this lightless area depends to a great extent on the turbidity of the water and corresponds to benthic and pelagic habitats starting from the deep circa-littoral. Caves which show environmental conditions that favour the installation on of organisms characteristic of dark habitats, are also taken into account. Dark habitats are dependent on very diverse geomorphological structures (e.g. underwater caves, canyons, slopes, isolated rocks, abyssal plains, cold seeps, brine anoxic lakes, hydrothermal springs and seamounts). Dark habitats represent outstanding and potential ecosystems with regard to their: Frailty and vulnerability to any land-based pressure Play an important part in the way the Mediterranean ecosystem functions, insofar as they constitute the main route for transferring matter between the coast and the deep sea Considered as biodiversity hotspots and recruiting areas forming a veritable reservoirs of knowledge and biodiversity Natural habitats that come under Habitat Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and appear as such as priority habitats requiring protection (Directive 92/43). A certain number of underwater caves enjoy protection status because they fall within the geographical boundaries of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Understanding of these functions is necessary for a better understanding and management of the biodiversity of Mediterranean coastal zones and continental shelf. |
URI: | https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar//handle/123456789/18003 |
Appears in Collections: | Scholarly Works - FacSciBio |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Action Plan for the conservation of habitats and species.pdf | Action plan for the conservation of habitats and species associated with seamounts, underwater caves and canyons, aphotic hard beds and chemo-synthetic phenomena in the Mediterranean Sea (Dark Habitats action plan) | 6.33 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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