Document of bibliographic reference 396588

BibliographicReference record

Type

Bibliographic resource

Type of document

Journal article

BibLvlCode

AS

Title

Infauna evolution of the invertebrate community after a severe eutrophic crisis in the coastal lagoon of the Mar Menor (W Mediterranean)

Abstract

The coastal lagoon of the Mar Menor (SE Spain) has undergone a critical transformation in the last decade due to a dramatic eutrophication crisis, primarily as a direct consequence of very-intensive agriculture along the adjacent coast. This has compromised the ecosystem balance, resulting in irreversible impacts such as the pro?liferation of macro and microalgae, biodiversity loss, and the formation of dead zones. The Mar Menor’s resil?ience has been tested, showing serious environmental degradation evidenced by a significant shift in ecological state around 2016. During a two-year study period (2017–2018), 25 taxa belonging to 5 phyla were identified, with the phylum Annelida (class Polychaeta) being the best represented, followed by the phylum Mollusca. Initially, the benthic fauna was dominated by species tolerant to hypoxia, such as polychaetes. Over time, other species that can withstand slightly less eutrophication have also emerged and integrated with the polychaetes, indicating a complex dynamic in response to environmental changes.

Bibliographic citation

Sandonnini, J.; Del Pilar Ruso, Y.; Valverde-Urrea, M.; Giménez-Casalduero, F. (2024). Infauna evolution of the invertebrate community after a severe eutrophic crisis in the coastal lagoon of the Mar Menor (W Mediterranean). Regional Studies in Marine Science 79: 103824. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103824

Is peer reviewed

true