Abstract
Benthic communities on shallow sedimentary bottoms in the western Mediterranean can play a crucial role in the development, maintenance and evolution of bedforms. This chapter presents an overview of the most characteristic benthic communities in shallow waters classified by the type of substrate: coarse bottoms, sandy bottoms and fine-grained bottoms. Examples from the Murcia continental shelf are provided to illustrate the main communities, giving special emphasis to the seagrass beds (some of them endemic to the Mediterranean) and the scarce maërl community, both with high biodiversity and ecological value.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Baños-Gonzalez, I. Baños, P. (2013). Portman: De El Portus Magnus del Mediterraneo Occidental a la bahía aterrada. Ed. Universidad de Murcia: 502 pp.
Ballesteros, E. Torras, X., Pinedo, S. García, M., Mangialajo, L., de Torres, M. (2007). A new methodology based on littoral community cartography dominated by macroalgae for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55: 172–180.
Bellan-Santini D., Bellan G., Bitar G., Harmelin J.G., Pergent G. (2002). Manuel d´interprétation des types d´habitats marins pour la sélection des sites à inclure dans les Inventaires Nationaux de Sites Naturels d´Intérêt pour la Conservation. Programme des Nations Unies pour l´Environnement, Plan d´Action pour la Méditerranée. 197 pp.
Bellan-Santini D., Lacaze J.C., Poizat C. (1994). Les biocénoses marines et littorales de Méditerranée, synthèse, menaces et perspectives. Collection Patrimoines Naturels, Secrétariat Faune et Flore, M.N.H.N., Paris. 246 pp.
Benedicto, J.; Andral, B.; Martínez-Góomez, C.; Guitart, C.; Deudero, S.; Cento, A.; Scatrppato, A.; Caixach, J.; Benbrahim, S.; Chouba, L.; Boulahdidi, M., Galgani, F. (2011). A large scale survey of trace metals levels in coastal waters of the Western Mediterranean basin using caged mussels. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 13: 1495–1505.
Benedicto, J.; Fernández, J.M.; Martínez-Gómez, C.; Fernández, B.; Mas, J.; Campillo, J.A., León, V. (2012). Informe del estado preoperacional del medio marino de la Bahía de Portman (La Unión-Murcia) y su entorno para la obra de regeneración y adecuación ambiental. Informe Interno del Instituto Español de Oceanografía.
Calvín, J.C., Franco, I. Marín, A., Martínez-Ingles, A. Belmonte, J.M. Ruiz, J.M. (1998). El litoral sumergido de la Región de Murcia: Cartografía bionómica y valores ambientales. Dirección General de Medio Ambiente, Agricultura y Agua. Región de Murcia. 128 pp.
Cochrane, S.K.J., Connor, D.W, Nilsson, P., Mitchell, I., Reker, J., Franco, J., Valavanis, V, Moncheva, S., Ekebom, J., Nygaard, K., Serrão Santos, R., Narberhaus, I., Packeiser, T., van de Bund W., Cardoso, A.C. (2010). Marine Strategy Framework Directive Task Group 1, Report Biological diversity. Ed: N.Zampoukas. EUR Scientific and Technical Research series, ISSN 1018-5593 ISBN 978-92-79-15650-2, doi: 10.2788/86653: 120 pp.
Demestre, M., Muntadas, A., Sánchez, P., García de Vinuesa, A., Franco, I., Más, J., Durán, R. and Guillén, J. (2016). Bio and anthropogenic disturbance on maërl communities in subaqueous dunes of the Mar Menor shelf (SW Mediterranean). In Guillén et al (eds): Atlas of bedforms in the western Mediterranean. Springer. (this issue).
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. (DO L 206 de 22.7 1992). 7 pp.
Guillén, J., Soriano, S., Demestre, M., Falqués, A., Palanques, A., Puig, P. (2008). Alteration of bottom roughness by benthic organisms in a sandy coastal environment. Continental Shelf Research, 28: 2382–2392.
Pérès, J.M., Picard J. (1964). Nouveau manuel de bionomie benthique de la Mer Méditerranée. Recueil des Travaux de la Station Marine d´Endoume. Bulletin nº34, fasc. Nº7. 137 pp.
Ros, J., Romero, J., Ballesteros, E., Gili, J.M. (1985). Diving in blue water: the benthos. In Western Mediterranean, R. Margalef (ed.), Oxford: Pergamon, 233–295.
Templado, J. Guallart, J., Capa, M., Luque, A. (2009). 1170 Arrecifes. In: W.AA., Bases ecológicas preliminares para la conservación de los tipos de hábitats de interés comunitario en España. Madrid: Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, y Medio Rural y Marino. 142 pp.
Templado, J. Ballesteros, E., Galparsoro, I., Borja, A., Serrano, A., Marín, L., Brito, A. (2012). Guía interpretativa. Inventario español de hábitats marinos. Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente. 229 pp. http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/costas/publicaciones/GUIA_INTERP_HABITATS_WEB_tcm7-270736.pdf.
Van Lancker, V., Houziaux, J.S, Baeye, M., Van den Eynde, D., Rabaut, M., Troost, K., Vermaas, T., van Dijk, T.A.G.P. (2013). Biogeomorphology in the field: bedforms and species, a mystic relationship. Marine and River Dune Dynamics, MARID IV, April 2013, Bruges, Belgium: 277–283.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mas, J., Franco, I., Demestre, M., Guillén, J., Murcia, F.J., Ruiz, J.M. (2017). Benthic Communities on Shallow Sedimentary Bottoms in the Western Mediterranean. In: Guillén, J., Acosta, J., Chiocci, F., Palanques, A. (eds) Atlas of Bedforms in the Western Mediterranean. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33940-5_31
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33940-5_31
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33938-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33940-5
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)