Socio-economic impacts of ocean acidification in the Mediterranean Sea

Rodrigues, Luís C.; Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M. van den; Ghermandi, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2012.07.005

Cited by 27 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…This instance is also supported by a comparison of thermotolerance thresholds estimated for similar gorgonian species (P. clavata, E. singolaris, Crisci et al, 2011 and references therein). Also in this case, mortality events might cause, besides ecological damages, a direct economic cost, due to the impacts on scuba diving tourism (Rodrigues et al, 2013).…”

Section: Considerations On the Expected Impacts On C Rubrum And Coramentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Heat Waves Hazard 3D Maps and the Risk for Low Motility Organisms in a Warming Mediterranean Sea

2017

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Frequency and severity of heat waves is expected to increase as a consequence of climate change with important impacts on human and ecosystems health. However, while many studies explored the projected occurrence of hot extremes on terrestrial systems, few studies dealt with marine systems, so that both the expected change in marine heat waves occurrence and the effects on marine organisms and ecosystems remain less understood and surprisingly poorly quantified. Here we: (i) assess how much more frequent, severe, and depth-penetrating marine heat waves will be in the Mediterranean area in the next decades by post-processing the output of an ocean general circulation model; and (ii) show that heat waves increase will impact on many species that live in shallow waters and have reduced motility, and related economic activities. This information is made available also as a dataset of temperature threshold exceedance indexes that can be used in combination with biological information to produce risk assessment maps for target species or biomes across the whole Mediterranean Sea. As case studies we compared projected heat waves occurrence with thermotolerance thresholds of low motility organisms. Results suggest a deepening of the survival horizon for red coral (Corallium rubrum, a commercially exploited benthic species already subjected to heat-related mass mortality events) and coralligenous reefs as well as a reduction of suitable farming sites for the mussel Mythilus galloprovincialis. In recent years Mediterranean circalittoral ecosystems (coralligenous) have been severely and repeatedly impacted by marine heat waves. Our results support that equally deleterious events are expected in the near future also for other ecologically important habitats (e.g., seagrass meadows) and aquaculture activities (bivalvae), and point at the need for mitigation strategies.

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Section: Considerations On the Expected Impacts On C Rubrum And Coramentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Heat Waves Hazard 3D Maps and the Risk for Low Motility Organisms in a Warming Mediterranean Sea

2017

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“…Observations of ocean acidification have already been recorded, and evidence suggests that this phenomenon is occurring at an unprecedented rate. A number of studies indicate that ocean acidification might impact the structure and functioning of ecological systems, with cascading consequences on socio-economic activities (Rodrigues et al, 2013;Turley and Boot, 2011;Melaku Canu et al, 2015). In this context alkalinity is a very relevant concept, because it is a measure of the capabilities of sea water to buffer acidification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal variability of alkalinity in the Mediterranean Sea

2015

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Abstract. The paper provides a basin-scale assessment of the spatiotemporal distribution of alkalinity in the Mediterranean Sea. The assessment is made by integrating the available observations into a 3-D transport-biogeochemical model.The results indicate the presence of complex spatial patterns: a marked west-to-east surface gradient of alkalinity is coupled to secondary negative gradients: (1) from marginal seas (Adriatic and Aegean Sea) to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and (2) from north to south in the western region. The west-east gradient is related to the mixing of Atlantic water entering from the Strait of Gibraltar with the high-alkaline water of the eastern sub-basins, which is correlated to the positive surface flux of evaporation minus precipitation. The north-to-south gradients are related to the terrestrial input and to the input of the Black Sea water through the Dardanelles. In the surface layers, alkalinity has a relevant seasonal cycle (up to 40 µmol kg −1 ) that is driven by physical processes (seasonal cycle of evaporation and vertical mixing) and, to a minor extent, by biological processes. A comparison of alkalinity vs. salinity indicates that different regions present different relationships: in regions of freshwater influence, the two quantities are negatively correlated due to riverine alkalinity input, whereas they are positively correlated in open sea areas of the Mediterranean Sea.

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“…Future work to explore the impact of ocean acidification on Mediterranean nations could involve computable general equilibrium models (CGE models) for multi-sectors and multi-countries [70]. These models require a system of equations to assess the added impact of ocean acidification on linkages across sectors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of Mediterranean Countries to Ocean Acidification

Hilmi

Allemand

Cinar

et al. 2014

Water

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This study examines the potential effects of ocean acidification on countries and fisheries of the Mediterranean Sea. The implications for seafood security and supply are evaluated by examining the sensitivity of the Mediterranean to ocean acidification at chemical, biological, and macro-economic levels. The limited information available on impacts of ocean acidification on harvested (industrial, recreational, and artisanal fishing) and cultured species (aquaculture) prevents any biological impact assessment. However, it appears that non-developed nations around the Mediterranean, particularly those for which fisheries are increasing, yet rely heavily on artisanal fleets, are most greatly exposed to socioeconomic consequences from ocean acidification.

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Socio-economic impacts of ocean acidification in the Mediterranean Sea

Cited by 27 publications

References 31 publications

Marine Heat Waves Hazard 3D Maps and the Risk for Low Motility Organisms in a Warming Mediterranean Sea

Marine Heat Waves Hazard 3D Maps and the Risk for Low Motility Organisms in a Warming Mediterranean Sea

Spatiotemporal variability of alkalinity in the Mediterranean Sea

Exposure of Mediterranean Countries to Ocean Acidification

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