Mediterranean Sea - A Global Ecoregion

Ten species of sea grass in the region now considered endangered

Snapshot: Ecoregion 199

Size:
N/A

Habitat type:
Temperate Shelf and Seas

Geographic Location:
Mediterranean Sea- between southern Europe and northern Africa

Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered

Quiz Time!

Why does Mediterranean Sea need water from the Atlantic?

Answer:
The rivers that feed the Mediterranean provide only about one-third of the amount of water that it loses through evaporation. As a result, the ecoregion relies on a constant inflow of surface water from the Atlantic Ocean.

About the Area
The Mediterranean Sea has significant endemism and is biologically distinctive from the adjacent Atlantic Ocean.

Its rocky reefs, seagrass meadows, and upwelling areas are particularly important habitats that support enormous biodiversity. Seagrass meadows provide important habitat, especially as breeding, feeding, and resting areas for numerous marine species, particularly fish, crustaceans, and marine turtles.

These meadows produce more than 80% of the annual fish yield in the Mediterranean. The grasses also stabilise the seashore and maintain water quality, particularly through oxygen production. The rocky reef ecosystems provide habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) as well as several endemic fish and invertebrates. The Ligurian Sea represents the most significant upwelling area in the Mediterranean.

Local Species
A few of the characteristic species are the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), Mullets (Mugilidae spp.), Gilthead sea bream (Sparus auratus), Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), and the Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber).

Also found in this ecosystem are Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), Harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), several other species of dolphins, Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), and Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea).

Threats
Coastal development, intensive tourism, and land reclamation for agriculture place pressures on key wildlife habitats in the Mediterranean. Local and regional problems related to pollution, specifically effluents from domestic and industrial sources, oil transportation and refineries, and agricultural runoff, are beginning to have an impact on wildlife.

Additionally, intense development, sand excavation, urbanisation, and the release of untreated sewage into the sea is a major public health issue, as increased numbers of microorganisms have led to an increase in several diseases. The fisheries of this region have been overexploited and many local fisheries are declining as a consequence of indiscriminate trawl fishing and high levels of bycatch.