1
|
Dimitriadis C, Marampouti C, Calò A, Di Franco A, Giakoumi S, Di Franco E, Di Lorenzo M, Gerovasileiou V, Guidetti P, Pey A, Sini M, Sourbès L. Evaluating the long term effectiveness of a Mediterranean marine protected area to tackle the effects of invasive and range expanding herbivorous fish on rocky reefs. Mar Environ Res 2024; 193:106293. [PMID: 38103302 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Here we provide evidence, along an 8-year period time-series based on multifaceted data from a Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA), whether protection can tackle invasive and range expanding herbivore fishes, and their effects on the algal resource availability, taking into account the population trends of predatory fishes, fisheries catches of herbivore fishes and sea surface temperature (SST) through time. Our findings pointed out that an ineffective in restoring top-down control process MPA may facilitate, rather than alleviate, the sudden and enduring population burst of invasive and range-expanding herbivorous fishes at tipping points of abrupt change. This subsequently results in the deterioration of rocky reef habitats and the depletion of algal resources, with the tipping points of abrupt change for algal and herbivore fish species not overlapping chronologically. As sea temperature increases, ineffective or recently established MPAs may inadvertently facilitate the proliferation of invasive and range-expanding species, posing a significant challenge to management effectiveness and conservation objectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Dimitriadis
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece.
| | - C Marampouti
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece
| | - A Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy
| | - A Di Franco
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn" sede interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - S Giakoumi
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Stazione Zoologica "Anton Dohrn" sede interdipartimentale della Sicilia, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, 4521, 90149, Palermo, Italy
| | - E Di Franco
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, UMR 7035 ECOSEAS, Parc Valrose 28, Avenue Valrose, 06108, Nice, France
| | - M Di Lorenzo
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - V Gerovasileiou
- Department of Environment, Faculty of Environment, Ionian University, Zakynthos, Greece; Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC), Thalassocosmos, Gournes, Crete, Greece
| | - P Guidetti
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, 90133, Italy; Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (CNR-IAS), National Research Council, Via de Marini 6, 16149, Genoa, Italy; Department of Integrative Marine Ecology (EMI), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn-National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genoa Marine Centre, 16126, Genoa, Italy
| | - A Pey
- Thalassa - Marine Research & Environmental Awareness, 17 Rue Gutenberg, 06000, Nice, France
| | - M Sini
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100, Mytilene, Greece
| | - L Sourbès
- Management Unit of Zakynthos and Ainos National Parks and Protected Areas of the Ionian Islands, Natural Environment & Climate Change Agency (N.E.C.C.A.), El. Venizelou 1, 29100, Zakynthos, Greece
| |
Collapse
|