An ecosystem-based approach to assess the status of Mediterranean algae-dominated shallow rocky reefs.

A conceptual model was constructed for the functioning the algae-dominated rocky reef ecosystem of the Mediterranean Sea. The Ecosystem-Based Quality Index (reef-EBQI) is based upon this model. This index meets the objectives of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. It is based upon (i) the weighting of each compartment, according to its importance in the functioning of the ecosystem; (ii) biological parameters assessing the state of each compartment; (iii) the aggregation of these parameters, assessing the quality of the ecosystem functioning, for each site; (iv) and a Confidence Index measuring the reliability of the index, for each site. The reef-EBQI was used at 40 sites in the northwestern Mediterranean. It constitutes an efficient tool, because it is based upon a wide set of functional compartments, rather than upon just a few species; it is easy and inexpensive to implement, robust and not redundant with regard to already existing indices

Mise en Réseau des suivis des Biocénoses des roches subtidales de la façade Manche-Atlantique & Elaboration d’une stratégie d’évaluation de leur Etat de Conservation. Protocole ECBRS

Ce document présente le protocole ECBRS dans sa version de janvier 2014. Il s’agit d’une version modifiée du protocole (Derrien-Courtel et al., 2011b) présenté dans le rapport : Derrien-Courtel S., Le Gal A., De Casamajor M.-N. et F. Gevaert (2011). Mise en réseau des suivis des biocénoses des roches subtidales de la façade Manche/Atlantique & Elaboration d’une stratégie d’Evaluation de leur Etat de Conservation - Document de travail version 3, Ed juillet 2011. 27 p Les évolutions du protocole ECBRS sont issues d’une réflexion menée sur le protocole DCE macroalgues subtidales dans le cadre du second plan de gestion DCE (Derrien-Courtel et Le Gal, 2014). Ce protocole, toujours en cours de développement est susceptible de connaître encore quelques évolutions

Regional-scale analysis of subtidal rocky shore community

International audienceThe French monitoring network, REseau BENThique (REBENT), was launched by the Ministry of the Environment in 2003 following the 1999 Erika oil spill. REBENT aimed to acquire baseline knowledge of coastal benthic habitat distributions with a special focus on biological diversity. This study analyzed data from 38 subtidal rocky reef sites collected by a single diving team of marine biologists along the coast of Brittany from 2004 to 2010. At each site, the depth limits of the algal belts were determined between 0 and -40 m Chart Datum (CD); the flora and fauna compositions and abundances were sampled at -3 and -8 m CD. A total of 364 taxa (156 flora and 208 fauna), belonging to 12 phyla, were identified. The results showed that the depth limit and density of kelp beds increased as water turbidity decreased; moreover, several changes in community structure could be related to water turbidity and temperature. Thus, northern and southern Brittany showed strong differences in diversity and structure of the dominant kelp species (Laminaria hyperborea and Saccorhiza polyschides). The results from this kelp habitat composition survey (dominant kelp species and indicator species) provided important information for local pressure assessments, like increases in turbidity. The data also provided a reference that could be useful for detecting changes in coastal water temperatures due to global warming. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg and AWI

French ichthyological records for 2018

International audienceUncommon records of fishes may evidence local or global changes in fish composition resulting from environmental change or anthropogenic activities. Significant records of uncommon marine fishes, including migrant, non-native, cryptic, rare and threatened species, collected in French waters or by French vessels in European waters, observed by scuba divers or beachgoers, are reported for the year 2018. They include first, new, rare and unusual records for the following 52 species: Hexanchus griseus, Squatina squatina, Gymnura altavela, Acipenser sturio, A. gueldenstaedtii, Dalophis imberbis, Nemichthys curvirostris, Eurypharynx pelecanoides, Maulisia mauli, M. microlepis, Sagamichthys schnakenbecki, Melanostomias bartonbeani, Astronesthes niger*, Leptostomias gladiator*, Chlorophthalmus agassizi, Magnisudis atlantica, Evermannella balbo, Regalecus glesne, Luvarus imperialis, Raniceps raninus, Fistularia cf. petimba*, Trigla lyra, Lepidotrigla dieuzeidei, Micrenophrys lilljeborgii, Howella atlantica*, Pomatomus saltatrix, Serranus cabrilla, Caranx crysos, Seriola rivoliana, Trachinotus ovatus, Lobotes surinamensis, Sarpa salpa, Chelon ramada, Pseudoscopelus altipinnis*, Trachinus draco, Parablennius pilicornis, P. ruber, Buenia affinis, B. jeffreysii, Chromogobius zebratus, Didogobius splechtnai, Gammogobius steinitzi, Gobius couchi, G. kolombatovici, Lebetus sp., Speleogobius trigloides, Thorogobius macrolepis, Vanneaugobius dollfusi, Siganus rivulatus*, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum, Hyperoglyphe sp. et Pegusa cf. nasuta, among which six, marked with an asterisk (*), represent additions to the Checklist of the marine fishes from metropolitan France and one, N. curvirostris, is a first record for the Mediterranean

Global patterns of kelp forest change over the past half-century

Kelp forests (Order Laminariales) form key biogenic habitats in coastal regions of temperate and Arctic seas worldwide, providing ecosystem services valued in the range of billions of dollars annually. Although local evidence suggests that kelp forests are increasingly threatened by a variety of stressors, no comprehensive global analysis of change in kelp abundances currently exists. Here, we build and analyze a global database of kelp time series spanning the past half-century to assess regional and global trends in kelp abundances. We detected a high degree of geographic variation in trends, with regional variability in the direction and magnitude of change far exceeding a small global average decline (instantaneous rate of change = -0.018 y-1). Our analysis identified declines in 38% of ecoregions for which there are data (-0.015 to -0.18 y-1), increases in 27% of ecoregions (0.015 to 0.11 y-1), and no detectable change in 35% of ecoregions. These spatially variable trajectories reflected regional differences in the drivers of change, uncertainty in some regions owing to poor spatial and temporal data coverage, and the dynamic nature of kelp populations. We conclude that although global drivers could be affecting kelp forests at multiple scales, local stressors and regional variation in the effects of these drivers dominate kelp dynamics, in contrast to many other marine and terrestrial foundation species

Global patterns of kelp forest change over the past half-century

Kelp forests (Order Laminariales) form key biogenic habitats in coastal regions of temperate and Arctic seas worldwide, providing ecosystem services valued in the range of billions of dollars annually. Although local evidence suggests that kelp forests are increasingly threatened by a variety of stressors, no comprehensive global analysis of change in kelp abundances currently exists. Here, we build and analyze a global database of kelp time series spanning the past half-century to assess regional and global trends in kelp abundances. We detected a high degree of geographic variation in trends, with regional variability in the direction and magnitude of change far exceeding a small global average decline (instantaneous rate of change = −0.018 y(−1)). Our analysis identified declines in 38% of ecoregions for which there are data (−0.015 to −0.18 y(−1)), increases in 27% of ecoregions (0.015 to 0.11 y(−1)), and no detectable change in 35% of ecoregions. These spatially variable trajectories reflected regional differences in the drivers of change, uncertainty in some regions owing to poor spatial and temporal data coverage, and the dynamic nature of kelp populations. We conclude that although global drivers could be affecting kelp forests at multiple scales, local stressors and regional variation in the effects of these drivers dominate kelp dynamics, in contrast to many other marine and terrestrial foundation species