Volcanic-associated ecosystems of the Mediterranean Sea: a systematic map and an interactive tool to support their conservation

PeerJ

article

Valentina Costa¹  Valentina Sciutteri¹  Pierpaolo Consoli¹  Elisabetta Manea²  Elisabetta Menini³  Franco Andaloro¹  Teresa Romeo¹  Roberto Danovaro⁵ 

[1] Department of Integrative Marine Ecology;Laboratoire d’Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques ,(LECOB), Sorbonne Université;Nicholas School of Environment, Duke University;National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research;Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche

关键词: Vulnerable marine ecosystems;    Conservation management;    Area-based management tools (ABMT);    Shiny-app;    Threatened habitats;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.15162

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Background Hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, pockmarks and seamounts are widely distributed on the ocean floor. Over the last fifty years, the knowledge about these volcanic-associated marine ecosystems has notably increased, yet available information is still limited, scattered, and unsuitable to support decision-making processes for the conservation and management of the marine environment. Methods Here we searched the Scopus database and the platform Web of Science to collect the scientific information available for these ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea. The collected literature and the bio-geographic and population variables extracted are provided into a systematic map as an online tool that includes an updated database searchable through a user-friendly R-shiny app. Results The 433 literature items with almost one thousand observations provided evidence of more than 100 different volcanic-associated marine ecosystem sites, mostly distributed in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Less than 30% of these sites are currently included in protected or regulated areas. The updated database available in the R-shiny app is a tool that could guide the implementation of more effective protection measures for volcanic-associated marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea within existing management instruments under the EU Habitats Directive. Moreover, the information provided in this study could aid policymakers in defining the priorities for the future protection measures needed to achieve the targets of the UN Agenda 2030.

【 授权许可】

CC BY