Using seaweed assemblages on intertidal rocky shores to assess the ecological status of Andalusian coasts. Biogeographical implications.
type: CreativeWork
description: According to the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the ecological status of European coastal waters must be assessed using different biological quality elements (BQE). One of the four proposed BQE is based on the composition and abundance of the marine macroalgae. Because of the biogegraphical differences along the European coasts, six ecoregions have been considered for biological indices development (Atlantic, Baltic, North Sea, Barents Sea, Norway Sea and Mediterranean Sea). The geographical position of Andalusia (Southern Spain), as a transition zone between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea implies some technical and theoretical difficulties. Coastal waters of Andalusia belong to two different ecoregions, and their evaluation can be carried out with up to seven different macroalgal based indices. Moreover, the existence of a natural gradient along this coast interferes in the final value of the indices. The main objectives of this thesis were: i) the adaptation and comparison of indices based on macroalgae for the assessment of the ecological status in coastal waters of Andalusia; and ii) the provision of useful information for management about the ecology and the biogeography of littoral communities in southern Iberian Peninsula. The first objective is addressed in three chapters. In chapters 1 and 2, the Reduced Species List (RSL) and CARtography of LITtoral communities (CARLIT) indices were adapted to the particularities of Andalusian coasts. Afterwards, both indices were compared in the Strait of Gibraltar and the western Alboran Sea (chapter 3). The results showed that these indices were suitable to assess the ecological status in Andalusian coastal waters, and they yielded similar results. Overall, the ecological status of Andalusian water bodies (WBs) was good or high, excepting some highly modified WBs. The second block is focused on the ecology and biogeography of macroalgal communities in southern Iberian Peninsula. In chapter 4 the biogeographica…
abstract: According to the Water Framework Directive (WFD), the ecological status of European coastal waters must be assessed using different biological quality elements (BQE). One of the four proposed BQE is based on the composition and abundance of the marine macroalgae. Because of the biogegraphical differences along the European coasts, six ecoregions have been considered for biological indices development (Atlantic, Baltic, North Sea, Barents Sea, Norway Sea and Mediterranean Sea). The geographical position of Andalusia (Southern Spain), as a transition zone between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea implies some technical and theoretical difficulties. Coastal waters of Andalusia belong to two different ecoregions, and their evaluation can be carried out with up to seven different macroalgal based indices. Moreover, the existence of a natural gradient along this coast interferes in the final value of the indices. The main objectives of this thesis were: i) the adaptation and comparison of indices based on macroalgae for the assessment of the ecological status in coastal waters of Andalusia; and ii) the provision of useful information for management about the ecology and the biogeography of littoral communities in southern Iberian Peninsula. The first objective is addressed in three chapters. In chapters 1 and 2, the Reduced Species List (RSL) and CARtography of LITtoral communities (CARLIT) indices were adapted to the particularities of Andalusian coasts. Afterwards, both indices were compared in the Strait of Gibraltar and the western Alboran Sea (chapter 3). The results showed that these indices were suitable to assess the ecological status in Andalusian coastal waters, and they yielded similar results. Overall, the ecological status of Andalusian water bodies (WBs) was good or high, excepting some highly modified WBs. The second block is focused on the ecology and biogeography of macroalgal communities in southern Iberian Peninsula. In chapter 4 the biogeographica…
author: Bermejo Lacida, Ricardo
language: eng
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
date published: 2014-03-14
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:29:44Z
provider: Universidad de Cadiz
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Universidad de Cadiz

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/10498/23062