CORAL MASS MORTALITY ASSOCIATED TO SEAWATER TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES IN THE LEVANTINE (CYPRUS) AND ADRIATIC (CROATIA) SEAS
BibTeX
@MISC{Jimenez_coralmass,
author = {C. Jimenez and A. Petrou and I. Cvitkovic and M. Despalatovic and M. Evriviadou and L. Hadjioanou and M. A. Lange},
title = {CORAL MASS MORTALITY ASSOCIATED TO SEAWATER TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES IN THE LEVANTINE (CYPRUS) AND ADRIATIC (CROATIA) SEAS},
year = {}
}
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Abstract
Marine ecosystems are experiencing rapid changes due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. If proper management strategies are to be enforced, these changes on the structure and functioning of the ecosystems need to be documented. In this paper, we describe coral mortality events along the coast of Cyprus and Croatia, including sites with intense land-based human activities (e.g. agriculture). Two recent mass mortality events (2010, 2012) seem to have been induced by prolonged seawater temperature increases during a period of several weeks. Using image-analysis software, Cladocora caespitosa colonies were evaluated ( % affected area). At nutrient-affected sites, macroalgae and filter feeder organisms compete with corals for space, resulting in higher partial-tissue mortality (>90%) exacerbating thus the effects of the warming event.
Keyphrases
affected area marine ecosystem recent mass mortality event rapid change cladocora caespitosa colony proper management strategy coral mortality event nutrient-affected site anthropogenic disturbance intense land-based human activity filter feeder organism prolonged seawater temperature several week image-analysis software partial-tissue mortality
