The Mediterranean Cystoreira is the algae most affected by climate change

mediterranean cystoseira

Not all species are equally vulnerable to climate change. Depending on the physiology, ecosystem where it is located and the climate are more likely to be affected or not. In this case we are going to talk about the Mediterranean Cystoseira, an alga that is probably the species that is most affected by the increase in temperatures caused by climate change.

How is this alga affected?

Cystoseira Mediterranean

mediterranean seaweed

Cystoseira mediterranea is a key algae species found on the seabed. According to an international study in which researchers from the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Imedea (UIB-CSIC) have participated, this alga could be the most affected by the increase in water temperatures caused by global warming.

When temperatures rise in the seas and oceans, the interactions between species are affected. Nature has a balance that resides in the exchange of matter and energy between species that coexist in ecosystems. However, when the conditions of the same change (as it is the case of the increase of the temperatures), the interactions between the species could turn around the structure and composition of some of the most important ecosystems.

Impacts on the Mediterranean

sea ​​urchins

The study carried out is quite optimistic regarding the seagrass meadows of irreplaceable species such as Posidonia, at least with regard to the effects of herbivores.

But he also points out that, among the species that will be most affected, is this alga. The Mediterranean Sea is already increasing its temperature because of global warming. Many algae communities in the Mediterranean are at risk of being impacted by herbivores such as the hedgehog, which could further reduce their populations.

The work published in the journal "Marine Pollution Bulletin" has analyzed the factors that can potentially influence plant-herbivore interactions, experimenting with three of the most important plant species in the Mediterranean: the Posidona oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa plants and the Cystoseira mediterranea alga , and its common consumer, the sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus.

The results of this study show that herbivores put more pressure on the two plant species and that the populations would remain similar with global warming. It also indicates that they could be reduced since these plants are capable of producing more toxic compounds or unpleasant to herbivores when grown in warmer waters.

Reduction in growth rate

However, when they go on to study the algae, they realize that higher temperatures reduce the growth rate, although their consumption by the hedgehog remains quite high.

Scientists consider a situation quite worrying since currently overgrazing of urchins already has a significant impact on kelp forests, so that, if affected by higher temperatures, there could be the appearance of "Underwater deserts", that is, an area of ​​rocks without algae.

The urchin population is growing more and more and affects certain areas of the western Mediterranean. Hedgehogs grow due to the absence of natural predators that causes human overfishing.

As climate change affects the entire ecosystem as a whole, we must understand that the intensity of the interactions of these species will change. Interactions They are essential for ecosystems to grow well and especially in places like the Mediterranean, a semi-closed ecosystem.

The CEAB-CSIC researcher and head of the RECCAM project, Teresa Alcoverro, highlighted that, according to the study, “not all the consequences will be negative” and species such as Posidonia, “although not immune to the direct effects of temperature, yes at least it seems that they will be able to resist well the impact of herbivores ”.

The study is the result of collaboration between researchers from the Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CSIC), the University of Barcelona, ​​Imedea, the Oregon State University (USA), the Deakin University (Australia), the Nature Conservation Foundation (India) and Bangor University (Wales, UK) within the framework of the RECCAM project.

As you can see, ecosystems are very sensitive and interactions between species are necessary.


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  1.   Tito Erazo said

    This research makes it very clear, the principle that every animate or inanimate being, which is on earth, has been destined to perform a harmonious and interdependent function and in a balanced way, but at the present time the actions of man have broken the functioning balanced, with the consequences that we are experiencing and will be for many years.