Ecology and conservation of the Mediterranean Sea corals

Bc. Nicole Doležalová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

This study offers a contemporary review of the ecology and conservation challenges faced by the Mediterranean Sea anthozoans, commonly known as corals. The primary objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of these benthic organisms, including their ecology and the latest findings on anthropogenic pressures they face, as well as the conservation efforts made in the Mediterranean Sea region. The review is carried out by synthesizing and analyzing the existing scientific and grey literature over the last decade. Given the revealed significance of all coral habitats in the Mediterranean Sea and their fragility and current deteriorating condition, a comprehensive understanding is crucial for sustainable and realistic conservation efforts, which should encompass both ecosystem and socio-economic services. The unclarity in terminology for these environments is one of the noticed phenomena. Furthermore, the revealed challenges are the imbalanced conservation efforts correlated positively towards the GDP of the conducting country, highlighting mainly European waters. Both conservation and research efforts are lacking in the south-eastern Mediterranean Sea with prevailing indirect research methods. In particular, the situation of protection of the Temperate Mesophotic Ecosystems (TMEs) is currently insufficient. Only a minimal part is effectively protected due to historical reasons regarding the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The state of the latter and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECM) is strongly dependent on sufficient financing, which has been particularly problematic in recent years due to the global pandemic. This study reveals the potential knowledge gaps as well as the disconnection of research and its application in further research or management.

Keywords

Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem, Anthozoa, Biodiversity, Cnidarians

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 1. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 23. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: Ing. Miloslav Petrtýl, Ph.D.
• Reader: Juan Felipe Escobar Calderon

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Bachelor programme:
Applied Ecology