Recent loss of Gibraltar seagrasses
-
Abstract
Worldwide, seagrasses face threats including climate change, disease and anthropogenic disturbance, with populations at the extremes of species’ distributions likely presaging future problems elsewhere in their geographical ranges. At the geographic limits of two marine macrophytes (Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica) and under intense urbanization, seagrasses around Gibraltar are particularly vulnerable. However, the last published survey of Gibraltar seagrass meadows, in 1993, showed both species were abundant. We resurveyed this area and were unable to locate any seagrass in Gibraltar waters. Extensive coastal development and land reclamation make much former seagrass habitat in Gibraltar waters unsuitable, presenting substantial hurdles to any future restoration efforts.
©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Research articles
- Reproduction and life history of the green alga Prasiola linearis Jao (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta)
- Coexistence of Ulva rigida and Ulva laetevirens (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) in Venice Lagoon and other Italian transitional and marine environments
- New records of subtidal benthic marine algae from Wake Atoll, Central Pacific
- Palisada flagellifera (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from the Canary Islands, Spain: a new record for the eastern Atlantic Ocean based on morphological and molecular evidence
- New records of crustose seaweeds associated with subtidal maërl beds and gravel bottoms in Galicia (NW Spain)
- Rapid methods for extracting high-quality DNA from shell-boring “Conchocelis”
- Purification and partial characterization of the lectin from the marine red alga Tichocarpus crinitus (Gmelin) Rupr. (Rhodophyta)
- Mangrove species distribution and abundance in relation to local environmental settings: a case-study at Tumpat, Kelantan Delta, east coast of peninsular Malaysia
- Short communications
- Recent loss of Gibraltar seagrasses
- Leaf reddening in seagrasses
- The effect of boat propeller scarring intensity on genetic variation in a subtropical seagrass species
Articles in the same Issue
- Research articles
- Reproduction and life history of the green alga Prasiola linearis Jao (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta)
- Coexistence of Ulva rigida and Ulva laetevirens (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) in Venice Lagoon and other Italian transitional and marine environments
- New records of subtidal benthic marine algae from Wake Atoll, Central Pacific
- Palisada flagellifera (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) from the Canary Islands, Spain: a new record for the eastern Atlantic Ocean based on morphological and molecular evidence
- New records of crustose seaweeds associated with subtidal maërl beds and gravel bottoms in Galicia (NW Spain)
- Rapid methods for extracting high-quality DNA from shell-boring “Conchocelis”
- Purification and partial characterization of the lectin from the marine red alga Tichocarpus crinitus (Gmelin) Rupr. (Rhodophyta)
- Mangrove species distribution and abundance in relation to local environmental settings: a case-study at Tumpat, Kelantan Delta, east coast of peninsular Malaysia
- Short communications
- Recent loss of Gibraltar seagrasses
- Leaf reddening in seagrasses
- The effect of boat propeller scarring intensity on genetic variation in a subtropical seagrass species
