Scientific watch

Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of marine heat waves (MHWs) and mass mortality events (MMEs) of marine organisms are one of their main ecological impacts. This paper shows how during the 2015-2019 period, the

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are critical for halting marine biodiversity loss and safeguarding ecosystems. However, efforts to designate additional areas as MPAs have generally taken precedence over ensuring that designated sites are effectively protected. Serious concerns exist about marine “paper

Biodiversity represents the core of the natural capital, and as such needs to be quantified and followed over time. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a major tool for biodiversity conservation at sea. Monitoring of both species and habitat diversity in

The Mediterranean fan mussel Pinna nobilis is suffering a mass mortality event that started in 2016 in the Western Mediterranean and that has meanwhile spread throughout de Mediterranean Sea. This study presents the results of the first broad-scale assessment of

The Mediterranean Sea is a high-density maritime traffic area, particularly in the Pelagos Sanctuary. Ship strikes pose a substantial threat to fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) according to reports from the IUCN, the IWC, the ACCOBAMS and the EU Habitats Directive.

One of the objectives of the LIFE IP INTEMARES project is to assess the impact of bottom trawling on the vulnerable benthic habitats of the circalittoral bottoms of the Menorca Channel (western Mediterranean), designated a Site of Community Importance (SCI)

Coastal development has an undeniable impact on marine ecosystems resulting in the detriment of the more sensible communities. Posidonia oceanica meadows are climax communities which offer a wide variety of ecosystem services both ecological and socio-economic. Human-derived impact on these

The use of Graph Theory on social media data is a promising approach to identifying emergent properties of the complex physical and cognitive interactions that occur between humans and nature. This study tested the effectiveness of this approach on a

Among Mediterranean habitat-forming alcyonaceans, the sea fan Eunicella verrucosa is known to form dense forests at circalittoral depths, providing seascape complexity and sustaining a rich associated fauna. Its occurrence in the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (NE Sardinia) has

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are considered key tools for achieving the sustainability of coastal fisheries by allowing habitat and species conservation by means of use regulations and active management. The effects of protection are more visible in slow-growing, high site