Recent publications on Mediterranean wetlands / Des publications récentes sur les zones humides méditerranéennes

Global and regional conservation status of vascular wetland plants in Mediterranean islands: a collaborative network to improve knowledge and awareness

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:10:24

Mediterranean wetlands are highly sensitive ecosystems, particularly vulnerable to human pressure and shifts in precipitation and temperature regimes. Wetland plants can be particularly threatened in Mediterranean insular contexts, where such habitats are naturally smaller and more fragmented than in their continental counterparts. This study investigated 275 species of vascular wetland plants that were considered to be at least regionally threatened across 2217 islands and islets in the Mediterranean. We provided both global and local IUCN conservation assessments (summarized in a ‘conservation concern’ index) and ‘assessment completion’ (i.e. knowledge level) for each taxon as well as a geographic distribution among islands, wetland types, and life forms. Most of wetland plants were threatened at the regional level, although assessment completion was generally low, except for endemics. Inland and endemic wetland plants were more threatened than the rest. A phylogenetic signal was detected, highlighting that Orchidaceae and Apiaceae were of particularly high conservation concern, while other families, especially Amaranthaceae, exhibited low levels of assessment completion. No geographical patterns were found in terms of conservation concern and assessment completion. Our findings provide critical insights into biodiversity patterns, identify conservation gaps and priorities and contribute to the development of targeted strategies for the protection of wetland plants, which are crucial indicators of the entire natural capital of Mediterranean island ecosystems.

Dénombrements internationaux des oiseaux d’eau – Synthèse Méditerranéenne pour 13 pays (2019-2023 (2025)

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:18:30

Le Mediterranean Waterbirds Network (MWN) joue un rôle crucial en coordonnant les dénombrements d’oiseaux d’eau dans 13 pays méditerranéens. L'objectif principal de ce réseau est d'améliorer la qualité des données à travers des formations et des échanges d'informations entre les différentes parties prenantes. Entre 2019 et 2023, un total de 222 zones humides ont été identifiées comme sites d'importance internationale selon la Convention de Ramsar, dont la moitié est déjà désignée comme telles, soulignant ainsi leur valeur écologique. Cependant, plusieurs populations d'oiseaux d'eau font face à des préoccupations croissantes, notamment l’Erismature à tête blanche, qui est en déclin. Les changements climatiques et la perte d’habitats sont des facteurs particulièrement préoccupants pour leur survie. En revanche, 19 populations d'oiseaux présentent des signes d’augmentation, surtout dans des régions comme l'Europe du Nord-Ouest, ce qui est encourageant. Néanmoins, la menace de l’influenza aviaire pèse lourdement sur les oiseaux sauvages, rendant la surveillance et la conservation essentielles. Il est donc impératif d’intensifier les efforts de sensibilisation, d'améliorer les habitats et de gérer les prélèvements pour soutenir les espèces menacées dans cette région riche en biodiversité. [résumé rédigé par IA]

Zones Humides Méditerranéennes : des réponses face aux crises (2025)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:37:01

Les pressions environnementales sur la Méditerranée, un point chaud de biodiversité, s'intensifient en raison du changement climatique et de l'urbanisation croissante. Les zones humides, souvent dégradées, jouent un rôle crucial dans la lutte contre ces menaces en stockant du carbone et en régulant le climat. Ce troisième rapport dresse un état des lieux et propose des actions concrètes pour leur protection. Il repose sur une approche collaborative et scientifique, impliquant divers acteurs de la région. Malgré les défis, des signes d'espoir émergent grâce à une coopération renforcée et des solutions locales.

Mediterranean Wetlands: responses to ongoing crises (2025)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:36:56

Environmental pressures on the Mediterranean, a biodiversity hotspot, are intensifying due to climate change and increasing urbanisation. Wetlands, often degraded, play a crucial role in combating these threats by storing carbon and regulating the climate. This third report provides an overview of the situation and proposes concrete actions for their protection. It is based on a collaborative and scientific approach, involving various stakeholders in the region. Despite the challenges, signs of hope are emerging thanks to enhanced cooperation and local solutions.

Etude des communautés d’oiseaux d’eau hivernants sur des lacs de barrages dans le bassin méditerranéen (2025)

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 16:36:51

Les zones humides naturelles subissent un fort déclin, impactant les communautés d’oiseaux d’eau qui en dépendent. Paradoxalement, les lacs artificiels, bien que construits au détriment des zones humides naturelles alluviales à leur aval, peuvent offrir de nouveaux habitats de substitution pour certaines espèces. Cette étude vise à déterminer dans quelle mesure ces barrages peuvent supporter des communautés similaires à celles de zones humides naturelles, avec un intérêt écologique pour les oiseaux d’eau, désignées en aires protégées. A partir des données de comptages d’oiseaux d’eau hivernants de l’International Waterbirds Census (IWC), dans 15 pays du bassin méditerranéen, entre 1995 et 2022, trois paramètres complémentaires ont été analysés : la richesse spécifique, l’abondance totale annuelle et la distance de composition à un ensemble de communautés de référence (Distance to Reference Communities Index, DRCI). Les analyses montrent que les barrages étudiés accueillent en moyenne des communautés moins riches et moins abondantes que dans les zones humides suivies dans des aires protégées, ou que des barrages eux-mêmes intégrés dans des aires protégées ciblant la conservation des oiseaux d’eau. La composition des communautés moyenne est également différente, mais cette différence dépend de l’emplacement géographique des sites, avec une différence plus marquée dans les zones littorales. Les résultats soulignent que, malgré leur intérêt écologique potentiel, les lacs de barrages ne permettent pas de compenser la perte des zones humides naturelles. Ils peuvent cependant contribuer à la conservation de certaines espèces d’oiseaux d’eau, d’autant plus si des mesures de protection les ciblant sont mises en place.

Étude de cas 7. Évaluation des coûts relatifs de la restauration des zones humides dans la région méditerranéenne (2025)

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:33:37

La région méditerranéenne a mis au point un outil précieux qui permet de cartographier les zones humides susceptibles d’être restaurées dans une zone donnée (pays, bassin versant, etc.) et d’indiquer les coûts relatifs (importants, modérés ou faibles) de leur restauration. Cet outil permet aux autorités locales et nationales ainsi qu’aux gestionnaires des zones humides de cibler les zones les plus prometteuses sur le plan géographique pour les projets de restauration.

Étude de cas 1. Évaluer les efforts à déployer pour restaurer les zones humides méditerranéennes (2025)

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:33:34

Cette étude de cas souligne que la mise à jour récente de l'indice WET, avec l’intégration de données de plus de 40 nouveaux sites de la base de données de l’Observatoire des zones humides méditerranéennes (OZHM), et un prolongement de la série jusqu’en 2020, l’évaluation qui couvre maintenant plus de 440 sites estime une perte moyenne de -20 % (95 % d’intervalle de confiance (IC) : -22 % à -17 %) des zones humides naturelles, entre 1990 et 2020. Ce déclin met en lumière les pressions croissantes de l’expansion urbaine, du développement agricole, de l’exploitation de l’eau et des changements climatiques, entraînant la fragmentation et la dégradation de ces écosystèmes d’importance vitale. Les résultats incitent à adopter sans délai des mesures de conservation plus sévères et des pratiques de gestion durables, à restaurer et à coopérer au niveau régional pour protéger les zones humides vitales pour la biodiversité, la résilience climatique et la sécurité de l’eau dans le bassin méditerranéen.

Exposure of wetlands important for nonbreeding waterbirds to sea-level rise in the Mediterranean

Fri, 17 May 2024 16:11:40

Sea-level rise (SLR) is expected to cause major changes to coastal wetlands, which are among the world's most vulnerable ecosystems and are critical for nonbreeding waterbirds. Because strategies for adaptation to SLR, such as nature-based solutions and designation of protected areas, can locally reduce the negative effects of coastal flooding under SLR on coastal wetlands, it is crucial to prioritize adaptation efforts, especially for wetlands of international importance for biodiversity. We assessed the exposure of coastal wetlands important for nonbreeding waterbirds to projected SLR along the Mediterranean coasts of 8 countries by modeling future coastal flooding under 7 scenarios of SLR by 2100 (from 44- to 161-cm rise) with a static inundation approach. Exposure to coastal flooding under future SLR was assessed for 938 Mediterranean coastal sites (≤30 km from the coastline) where 145 species of nonbreeding birds were monitored as part of the International Waterbird Census and for which the monitoring area was delineated by a polygon (64.3% of the coastal sites monitored in the Mediterranean region). Thirty-four percent of sites were threatened by future SLR, even under the most optimistic scenarios. Protected study sites and study sites of international importance for waterbirds were, respectively, 1.5 and 2 times more exposed to SLR than the other sites under the most optimistic scenario. Accordingly, we advocate for the development of a prioritization scheme to be applied to these wetlands for the implementation of strategies for adaptation to SLR to anticipate the effects of coastal flooding. Our study provides major guidance for conservation planning under global change in several countries of the Mediterranean region.

Les méthodes d’analyses pour l’évaluation écologique et le suivi des mares temporaires méditerranéennes : revue bibliographique et analyse critique (2024)

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 15:10:30

Ce travail bibliographique recueille une large diversité de méthodes de suivi et d’évaluation des mares temporaires. Celles-ci répondent à une diversité d’objectifs, de fonctionnement et de moyens nécessaires pour leur mise en œuvre. Toutefois, malgré une littérature scientifique internationale importante, nous avons identifié peu d’articles explicitement à destination des gestionnaires, adaptés aux mares temporaires méditerranéennes situées dans le sud de la France et en Corse. À l’inverse, une majorité d’indicateurs de cette analyse est proposée par des acteurs de la conservation des mares temporaires et reste généralement non publiée. Une amélioration des liens entre la recherche scientifique et la conservation de la nature permettrait d’enrichir le développement de ces méthodes.

Anticiper les changements climatiques pour protéger la biodiversité des zones humides

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 12:00:01

Les aires protégées jouent un rôle clé dans la conservation de la biodiversité. Alors que de nombreuses devraient voir le jour d’ici à 2030 suite à l’accord de Kunming-Montréal, il est essentiel de penser leur emplacement afin d’anticiper au mieux les futures menaces pour la biodiversité. Ainsi, en Méditerranée, de très nombreuses zones humides menacées par d’importants changements futurs de climat et d’usage des terres ne sont toujours pas protégées. Cette situation pourrait compromettre l’adaptation au changement climatique des oiseaux qu’elles abritent.

Compositional breakpoints of freshwater plant communities across continents

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 10:00:42

Compositional breakpoints of freshwater plant communities across continents unravelling patterns and mechanisms of biogeographical transitions is crucial if we are to understand compositional gradients at large spatial extents, but no studies have thus far examined breakpoints in community composition of freshwater plants across continents. Using a dataset of almost 500 observations of lake plant community composition from six continents, we examined, for the first time, if such breakpoints in geographical space exist for freshwater plants and how well a suite of ecological factors (including climatic and local environmental variables) can explain transitions in community composition from the subtropics to the poles. Our combination of multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis and k-means partitioning suggests that the most abrupt breakpoint exists between temperate to boreal regions on the one hand and freshwater plant communities harbouring mainly subtropical or Mediterranean assemblages on the other. The spatially structured variation in current climatic conditions is the most likely candidate for controlling these latitudinal patterns, although one cannot rule out joint effects of eco-evolutionary constraints in the harsher high-latitude environments and post-glacial migration lags after Pleistocene Ice Ages. Overall, our study supports the foundations of global regionalisation for freshwater plants and anticipates further biogeographical research on freshwater plant communities once datasets have been harmonised for conducting large-scale spatial analyses.

Anticipating the effects of climate warming and natural habitat conversion on waterbird communities to address protection gaps

Tue, 7 Feb 2023 15:47:00

Thermal adjustment of waterbird communities to climate warming is crucial but hampered by natural habitat conversion, increasing their climatic debt. As it is, in contrast, facilitated in protected areas, assessing the adequacy of the current protected areas network with respect to future climate and land-use changes and identifying priority sites to protect is of major importance. In this study, we assess the thermal adjustment limitations that non-breeding waterbird communities might experience by the end of the 21st century in the Mediterranean region to highlight priorities for wetland protection. Priorities were set by combining the exposure of waterbird communities to natural habitat conversion and climate warming with their thermal specialization. The latter was calculated using winter abundance data of 151 species from 2932 sites of the International Waterbird Census in 21 Mediterranean countries. Exposure was assessed using future projections of temperature and land-use under four CMIP6 scenarios (SSP1–2.6, SSP2–4.5, SSP3–7.0, and SSP5–8.5). We found that strictly protected areas are located in wetlands whose waterbird communities, without protection, would likely experience high limitations in thermal adjustment in the coming decades. This highlights that the location of existing protected areas may effectively support the thermal adjustment of waterbird communities to future climate warming. However, 490 sites considered at risk lack protection, including 32 sites of international importance for waterbirds, stressing the need to strengthen the protected areas network in these sites in priority. Our study provides important guidance for conservation planning in the Mediterranean region to support waterbird responses to climate change. / Dans notre étude, nous avons évalué les difficultés potentielles des communautés d’oiseaux d’eau hivernants à ajuster leur composition aux futurs changements de température en combinant la spécialisation thermique de la communauté avec deux métriques d’exposition à l’augmentation future des températures hivernales et à la perte future d’habitats naturels à l’horizon 2090 selon quatre scénarios futurs différents. Nous avons ainsi constaté que les aires protégées, et notamment celles strictement protégées, sont situées dans des zones humides dont les communautés d'oiseaux d'eau, sans protection, auraient probablement connu de fortes difficultés d'ajustement thermique au cours des prochaines décennies. Cela met en évidence la pertinence de l'emplacement des aires protégées existantes qui pourront faciliter de manière efficace l'adaptation thermique des communautés d'oiseaux d'eau au réchauffement climatique futur. Cependant, nous avons également identifié 490 sites à risque et ne bénéficiant d'aucun statut de protection, dont 32 sites d'importance internationale pour les oiseaux d'eau, ce qui souligne la nécessité de renforcer le réseau d'aires protégées méditerranéen dans ces sites en priorité.

An illustrated guide to birds of the Camargue, the Crau and Mediterranean lagoons (2023)

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 15:25:19

A clear, concise and richly illustrated field guide: indispensable for the amateur birdwatcher wishing to identify the principal species found around the wetland environments in and around the Camargue. – Descriptions of typical habitat types found in the Camargue – A general introduction to the world of birds: their systematics, evolution, feathers, migrations… – 40 pages of detailed colour illustrations - 181 detailed descriptions of bird species – Detailed information on the ecology of each bird, along with its habitat and the dates that it can be observed – Local maps to help you find your way to the main information centres

Guide illustré des oiseaux de Camargue, de Crau et du littoral méditerranéen (2023)

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 15:17:52

Cette cinquième édition a fait l’objet d’une mise à jour complète des informations sur les espèces traitées. De nouvelles illustrations viennent agrémenter la description des espèces. L'ouvrage décrit ainsi 181 espèces d’oiseaux qui peuplent la Camargue, le littoral et les diverses zones humides méditerranéennes. La première partie est consacrée à une introduction générale sur les oiseaux, la migration, et les milieux naturels qu’ils fréquentent. Puis, sur 80 pages, chaque espèce est abondamment illustrée dans tous ses plumages (mâle, femelle, juvénile), et un texte vient parfaire la description et donne des éléments sur les mœurs de l’espèce, les dates propices à son observation et où l’observer. L’ouvrage s’accompagne de cartes pour découvrir les sites propices à l’observation et les coordonnées des structures de protection et de conservation situées autour de la Camargue.

Mise en œuvre de l’évaluation de l’état de conservation des lagunes côtières méditerranéennes (1150- 2) à l’échelle du site Natura 2000 ‘’Camargue’’ - 2023 (2023)

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 10:27:38

La préservation et la conservation de la biodiversité et plus précisément des espèces et habitats naturels sont une urgente priorité des décennies à venir, notamment pour les services écosystémiques rendus (épuration de l’eau, contrôle des crues, stockage CO2…) mais également pour la richesse culturelle et patrimoniale. Les lagunes côtières méditerranéennes s’inscrivent dans cette dynamique puisqu’elles sont classées « habitat prioritaire » dans la liste des habitats de la Directive Habitat Faune et Flore (DHFF) de 1992. Les lagunes côtières méditerranéennes à l’étude dans ce rapport font partie de la zone Natura 2000 « Camargue » (classée ZPS et ZSC). Dans ce cadre là, l’état de conservation (EC) des lagunes doit être étudié et rapporté à l’échelle biogéographique tous les 6 ans pour la DHFF et à l’échelle du site Natura 2000 , tous les ans, à travers le Formulaire Standard de Données. L’EC des lagunes se définit à travers une méthodologie standardisée et selon 12 différents indicateurs dont 5 étudiés dans ce rapport : les espèces végétales exotiques envahissantes (EVEE), les espèces animales exotiques envahissantes (EAEE), la connectivité à la mer, la nature des berges et le fonctionnement hydrologique. L’EC de 9 des 16 lagunes d’intérêt est étudié en 2023 dans ce rapport. L’état de conservation global de chaque lagune sera normalement obtenu courant 2024. Cependant, il est d’ores et déjà possible de dire que 4 des 9 lagunes à l’étude ne présentent aucune perturbation pour les 5 indicateurs donnés, qu’aucune n’est colonisée par du cascail (EAEE), une seule est colonisée par des EVEE, les lagunes des EMSC (ancien salins) sont celles qui présentent le plus de perturbations (hydrologique, artificialisation des berges, connectivité à la mer) et enfin, les notes pour la connectivité à la mer sont hétérogènes sur le territoire. A l’échelle du site Natura 2000 , l’état de conservation global ne pourra être connu que l’année prochaine, quand l’EC du reste des lagunes aura été étudié. Cependant, même si l’EC est reporté à l’échelle du site entier, il est important de regarder l’EC de chaque lagune afin de définir des meilleures stratégies de gestion à l’échelle locale.

Restaurer les zones humides méditerranéennes : Le nouveau guide du décideur politique pour une gestion durable et une restauration des écosystèmes d'ici 2030 (2023)

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:57:05

La restauration des zones humides méditerranéennes est un nouveau manuel à l'usage des décideurs politiques pour la gestion durable et la conservation de l'eau d'ici à 2030. Il s'agit d'un résultat des partenariats intersectoriels partageant le savoir-faire dans le cadre de la Décennie des Nations Unies pour la restauration des écosystèmes 2021-2030. Coordonné par le WWF Espagne, MedWet et la Tour du Valat en partenariat avec l'initiative PIM et MEDSEA, le manuel fait partie de l'initiative Wetlands-Based Solutions et est financé par la Fondation MAVA. Les lecteurs y trouveront des conseils sur l'élaboration et la mise en œuvre d'initiatives de restauration des zones humides ainsi que des critères de sélection des sites. Des experts dans le domaine partagent leurs expériences et études de cas de restauration intégrée utilisant des solutions.

Les apports des méthodes d’évaluation de l’exposition aux changements climatiques et d’usage des sols à la planification des aires protégées – Le cas des oiseaux d’eau hivernant en Méditerranée (2023)

Thu, 11 May 2023 10:11:27

Climate change and land-use changes are major direct drivers of biodiversity loss, whose future impact must be anticipated. Mediterranean wetlands, which host an outstanding biodiversity, are highly vulnerable to these drivers but are not sufficiently targeted by conservation measures. The designation of new protected areas in these habitats can locally reduce the impact of climate and land-use changes on biodiversity, and especially on waterbird communities. It is necessary to identify wetlands of importance for biodiversity conservation for which the future changes are expected to be most severe in order to make the most of the effectiveness of protected areas. Assessing the exposure of Mediterranean wetlands to these drivers can help anticipate future variations of intensity and distribution of climate and land-use changes under several pathways of our societies. In this thesis, I aimed to assess whether existing protected areas cover the wetlands of importance for conservation most exposed to future climate and land-use changes in the Mediterranean region, and to identify where to designate new protected areas in order to lessen the future impact of these two drivers on waterbird communities. To this end, I computed various metrics of exposure to these drivers, derived from late 21st century projections under four future scenarios used by the IPCC. These metrics were intersected with winter abundance data of 151 waterbird species collected over 25 years at 5891 sites (25 countries) as part of the International Waterbird Census. First, I highlighted the high exposure to climate and land-use changes of Key Biodiversity Areas - sites of importance for biodiversity conservation - in the Mediterranean region, especially in countries where the protection of this network is low. In order to complement our knowledge on sites of importance for waterbirds, I subsequently applied three criteria of identification of wetlands of international importance to winter count data. As a result, I identified 161 sites of international importance for waterbirds whose status is not officially acknowledged, of which 95 are not protected. Then, I assessed the potential thermal adjustment limitations of waterbird communities to future temperature changes by combining their thermal specialization with their exposure to climate warming and natural habitat conversion. I thereby demonstrated the relevance of the location of existing protected areas that should overall be able to facilitate the future thermal adjustment of waterbird communities. However, I also identified 490 non-protected wetlands at risk, including 32 of international importance for waterbirds. Finally, assessing the exposure of coastal wetlands to sea-level rise highlighted the high threats to these sites, especially those protected and of international importance for waterbirds. Taken together, these exposure assessments to climate and land-use changes highlighted the overall relevance of the location of existing protected areas network in the Mediterranean region. However, these methods also identified important protection gaps of highly exposed wetlands of importance for waterbird conservation, especially in Maghreb countries. The results of this thesis could help guide the implementation of protection measures in Mediterranean wetlands and thereby improve the conservation of waterbird communities.

Climatic and Environmental Significance of Wetlands: Case Studies from Eurasia and North Africa (2023)

Sat, 1 Jan 2005 00:00:00

Wetlands provide a key service in an ecosystem such as providing resilience against drought and diverse habitats that support biodiversity. Because of their ephemeral character and their small size, however, these vulnerable ecosystems are declining rapidly as climate change continues to surge and human activities expand. Rational management of wet ecosystems need accompanying actions covering research, systematic observation, and more. Climatic and Environmental Significance of Wetlands: Case Studies from Eurasia and North Africa produces innovative concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications for ecosystem service valuation, wetland biodiversity conservation, fresh water supply, agricultural production, food security, wetland management, and its impact on biodiversity. It assesses the cumulative risk posed to wetland habitats and species by human activities and explores the consequences for the delivery of ecosystem services and biodiversity at local, regional, and global scales, as well as the impacts of climate change on wetland ecosystems and water resources

The Mediterranean Island Wetlands (MedIsWet) inventory: strengths and shortfalls of the currently available floristic data

Wed, 4 Jan 2023 11:14:32

MedIsWet (Conservation of the island wetlands of the Mediterranean Basin) is a MAVA funded project which aims at investigating all seasonal or permanent island wetlands both natural and artificial, with a minimum extent of 0.1 hectares. More than 16,000 wetlands from almost all the Mediterranean, including islands from France, Italy, Malta, Croatia, Cyprus, Tunisia, Turkey, Greece and Spain were mapped. Over 2,500 of them were inventoried in the field and more than 500 scientific contributions catalogued. In total, more than 35,000 plant occurrences were uploaded, in a standardised and comparable way, on the national open-source web portals. These can be related to the recorded threats, uses and other spatially retrievable information. Here, we show strengths and shortfalls of the already available information about the floristic records. Although further improvements are needed, we discuss how these data can be used for research and policy actions and to develop conservation projects. Key words: databases, floristic records, field surveys, rapid assessment, hydro-hygrophilous vegetation.

Sea-level rise, marine storms and the resilience of Mediterranean coastal wetlands: lessons learned from the Ebro Delta

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 11:25:08

Understanding the effects of sea-level rise (SLR) and marine storms on Mediterranean coastal wetlands is crucial to developing adequate climate change adaptation pathways. Because the majority of these systems are in deltaic areas, integrated river basin management (water and sediment discharge) is a must in the design of such pathways. Rising sea levels will tend to gradually flood coastal lagoons and marshes unless there is enough sediment supplied to compensate for the increasing deficit. Although the relationship between climate change and Mediterranean coastal storms is weak or non-existent, their impacts are expected to grow in the context of SLR and coastal squeezing. For example, the most affected Ebro Delta coastal stretches during the Gloria storm (January 2020), one of the most intense ever recorded in the Mediterranean, were those where the beach was narrower and weaker. Hard engineering solutions, such as the construction of dykes, as a protection measure against marine storms are not sustainable under scenarios of climate change and energy scarcity. A management approach based on soft engineering coastal defences and nature-based solutions is the most cost-effective and sustainable in the long run. The adequacy of implementing this kind of solution along the Mediterranean coast is discussed.

Use of voluntary environmental contracts for wetland governance in the European Mediterranean region

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:36:41

Ramsar sites are internationally protected wetlands designated to maintain an international network for biodiversity conservation and sustain human life. There are often conflicting interests for site management that lead to decisions based on sectoral policies or local approaches that have poor outcomes in terms of effectiveness and trade-offs. The European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) requires European countries to foster an integrated approach for wetland management through collaborative governance processes. The environmental contract is a tool that has been developed and implemented to set the ground for voluntary-based commitments for the sustainable governance of water systems. This paper reports on the results of the first study investigating the implementation of voluntary environmental contracts at the Mediterranean European level. Our results indicate that Ramsar sites in the region have made great progress with the development of management plans, yet many sites still lack governance schemes involving stakeholders. Voluntary environmental contracts have been widely used in Ramsar sites in France and Italy, but only a few other European countries have started implementing them. We have identified the need to further adapt the tool to local and national contexts, as well as the need for legislation, to promote upscaling at the regional scale.

Site fidelity and determinants of wintering decisions in the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus)

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:57:06

Wintering site selection is a major decision in a bird’s annual life cycle since conditions experienced by individuals within a wintering site can influence individual fitness and ultimately population dynamics. If individuals show strong fidelity to specific sites, annual environmental effects can be reinforced. In this study we analyse winter resightings of ringed Dalmatian pelicans, collected during a 35-year-long ringing survey, to identify winter movement patterns of Dalmatian pelicans, assess the level of site fidelity both within and among consecutive wintering events and examine environmental factors that may contribute to an individual’s decision to move towards a specific site during the winter period. Our results showed that the decision of Dalmatian pelicans to move towards a specific site was mainly driven by the site’s size and temperature conditions. Larger wetlands can provide birds with higher resource abundance and offer more opportunities to exploit optimal roosting and feeding habitats, whereas wetlands that do not freeze during the winter are a definite requirement. Wintering movements were more likely to occur at short distances from a bird’s natal colony, whereas it was uncommon for birds born in wetlands located in the Adriatic and Ionian coast to move eastwards during the winter, suggesting a level of spatial substructure. Furthermore, we showed that the species exhibits very strong within-year and among-year wintering site fidelity, with birds moving less during the winter, whereas juvenile birds travel greater distances than the rest of the age classes examined. Our conclusions could guide an effective approach to site-based conservation management at key wintering sites.

The Cassaïre wetland restoration project: defining the reference ecosystem

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 11:33:53

Defining a reference ecosystem for ecological restoration project is an essential step. The reference can correspond to the historical ecosystem, can be defined to solve environmental issues or can correspond to a socioecosystem. For the restoration of the Cassaïre site in the Camargue delta in southern France, the reference ecosystems chosen are: Mediterranean temporary wetlands and Mediterranean meso-xeric grasslands. The choice of these two reference ecosystems appears logical considering their contribution to regional biodiversity. Temporary wetlands and meso-xeric grasslands are rare, adapted to the Mediterranean climate, seriously endangered and host a high species richness. They are potentially achievable restoration targets because patches of these ecosystems remain in the Camargue area and close to the Cassaïre site. Moreover, an ecological history approach reveals deep human imprints on ecosystems and ensures that historical restoration targets (the state prior to human impacts) cannot be reached, because they are associated with hydraulic functioning (flooding of the Rhône and Durance) that no longer exists. The restored site is planned to be suitable for livestock grazing, thus presenting a new agricultural opportunity, while simultaneously offering new services, such as hunting.

Securing the Environmental Water Requirements of Seasonally Ponding Wetlands: Partnering Science and Management through Benefit Sharing

Mon, 30 May 2022 17:49:01

Although environmental flow regime assessments are becoming increasingly holistic, they rarely provoke water managers to enact the adaptive water reallocation mechanisms required to secure environmental water for wetlands. The conditions that cause science-based environmental flow assessments to succeed or fail in informing the management of environmental water requirements remain unclear. To begin to resolve these conditions, we used process tracing to deconstruct the sequence of activities required to manage environmental water in four case studies of seasonally ponding wetlands in Mediterranean and Mesoamerican watersheds. We hypothesized that, when the flexibility and equitability of the socioeconomic system do not match the complexity of the biophysical system, this leads to a failure of managers to integrate scientific guidance in their allocation of environmental water. Diagnostic evidence gathered indicates that science-management partnerships are essential to align institutional flexibility and socioeconomic equitability with the system’s ecohydrological complexity, and thus move from determination to reallocation of environmental water. These results confirm that institutions e.g., river basin organizations need to be supplemented by motivated actors with experience and skill to negotiate allocation and adaptive management of environmental water. These institutional-actor synergies are likely to be especially important in water scarce regions when the need to accommodate extreme hydrological conditions is not met by national governance capacity. We conclude by focusing on benefit sharing as a means to better describe the conditions for successful science-based environmental flow assessments that realize productive efficiency in environmental water allocation i.e., recognition of multiple values for both people and ecosystems.

Patterns of microbial abundance and heterotrophic activity along nitrogen and salinity gradients in coastal wetlands

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 18:02:33

Coastal wetlands are valuable aquatic ecosystems with high biological productivity, which provide services such as a reduction in nitrogen loading into coastal waters and storage of organic carbon acting as carbon dioxide sinks. The predicted rise of sea level or freshwater extractions, particularly in the arid Mediterranean biome, will salinize many coastal wetlands. However, there is considerable uncertainty about how salinization will affect microbial communities and biogeochemical processes. We determined the abundance of total prokaryotes, cyanobacteria, and viruses and quantified the heterotrophic production of prokaryotes sensitive- (predominantly Bacteria) and resistant- (predominantly Archaea) to erythromycin in 112 ponds from nine coastal wetlands. We explored the main drivers of prokaryotic abundance and heterotrophic production using generalized linear models (GLMs). The best GLM, including all the wetlands, indicated that the concentration of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) positively affected the total abundance of prokaryotes and the heterotrophic erythromycin-resistant (ery-R) production. In contrast, heterotrophic erythromycin-sensitive (ery-S) production was negatively related to TDN. This negative relationship appeared to be mediated by salinity and virus abundance. Heterotrophic ery-S production declined as salinity and virus abundance increased. Consequently, we observed a switch from heterotrophic ery-S production towards ery-R production as salinity and virus abundance increased. Our results imply that microbial activity will change from heterotrophic bacterial-dominated processes to archaeal-dominated processes with anthropogenic nitrogen and salinization increases. However, more studies are required to link the mineralization rates of dissolved nitrogen and organic carbon with specific archaeal taxa to enable more accurate predictions on future scenarios in coastal wetlands.

Final Evaluation M3. Enhancing the Conservation of Coastal Wetlands 2016-2022 (2022)

Mon, 2 Oct 2023 10:27:22

Restoring Mediterranean Wetlands: The new policymaker’s playbook for sustainable management and ecosystem restoration by 2030 (2022)

Wed, 1 Feb 2023 11:05:23

Restoring Mediterranean Wetlands is a new policymaker’s playbook for sustainable management and conservation of water by 2030. It is an output of the intersectoral partnerships sharing know-how as part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. Coordinated by WWF Spain, MedWet and Tour du Valat in partnership with PIM Initiative and MEDSEA, the playbook is part of the Wetlands-Based Solutions initiative and funded by the MAVA Foundation. Readers can expect guidance on developing and implementing wetlands restoration initiatives and criteria on selecting sites. Experts in the field share experiences and case studies of integrated restoration using nature-based solutions and how to set clear objectives, identify priorities and undertake continuous evaluation.

A comparative study of biodiversity between natural, urban and agriculture environments in the Gediz Delta, Turkey (2022)

Mon, 30 May 2022 16:18:28

Economic growth, demographic pressures, and lack of enforcement of environmental laws and protections have caused important levels of land-use changes and habitat destruction, threatening wetlands and their biodiversity around the world. Land-use changes have been the most important driving force on species composition changes in the last century. Mediterranean wetlands have been transformed by human activities over last the century and one-third of their surface area has been lost in the last decades. Understanding and quantifying the community-level responses to the land-use cover changes is essential for creating sustainable conservation management to protect species and ecosystems. The Gediz Delta is located in the Mediterranean basin of Turkey and offers the opportunity to understand better how agriculture and urbanization affect biodiversity with a good potential for generalization in other wetlands in the Mediterranean basin. This study's main objective is to better understand how land cover affects bird and reptile community assembly processes and which habitats in the Gediz Delta need special conservation attention. The study is divided into 3 components: First, we (a) evaluated the avian biodiversity changes in Gediz Delta from the 1980s-2019, and (b) compared bird and reptile communities in natural, agricultural, and urban environments. Finally, we (c) made a threat analysis and identified possible conservation actions for future management to reduce the effects of threats and improve the sustainable management of the delta.

Mapping and assessment of the state of wetland ecosystems: A mediterranean perspective (2022)

Mon, 30 May 2022 16:18:22

The Pan-Mediterranean wetland ecosystem map fills a major knowledge gap in the region by setting a Mediterranean-wide knowledge base on wetland ecosystems following the Ramsar definition of wetlands. The wetland ecosystem mapping is complemented by the assessment of wetland biodiversity conditions that aims to highlight priority areas for potential conservation and restoration actions in the region, and to support the regional efforts in advocating for effective wetland management and nature-based solutions in the Mediterranean region. The outputs of this activity include (i) a Pan-Mediterranean wetland ecosystem knowledge base, and (ii) an assessment of their condition that will be used to raise awareness and advocate for a change in wetland management that promotes effective protection, conservation and restoration. The outputs also support regional and national inventories, filling a major regional gap locating Mediterranean wetland habitats, and feed regional and global agendas, namely the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable development as well as the Ramsar Convention.

Gap analysis of the Ramsar site network at 50: over 150 important Mediterranean sites for wintering waterbirds omitted

Wed, 7 Jul 2021 14:08:13

The Mediterranean Basin is a biodiversity hotspot. Wetlands make a key contribution to this status, but many of them remain outside the Ramsar network fifty years after the establishment of the Ramsar Convention. Here we evaluate the extent to which the Mediterranean Ramsar network covers wetlands of international importance for wintering waterbirds using the Ramsar Convention criteria 2 (species of conservation concern), 5 (> 20,000 waterbirds) and 6 (1% of a population). These criteria were applied to 4186 sites in 24 Mediterranean countries using counts of 145 wintering waterbird species from 1991 to 2017. We identified 161 sites of international importance for waterbirds that have not yet been declared as Ramsar sites, which could be added to the 180 current Mediterranean Ramsar sites established based on waterbird criteria (criteria 5 and/or 6). Among these sites, a subset of 32 very important sites reached double the required level for at least one criterion and 95 were not protected by any site conservation status. Coastal wetlands represented half of the Ramsar gap for waterbirds. We identified that an additional 1218 monitored sites could be provisionally considered as internationally important and thus require more survey efforts to assess their status. This study highlights a lack of participation of the Mediterranean countries to build the Ramsar network for wetland protection. Our results should help policymakers and managers to prioritize future Ramsar site designation, notably in the Middle East and Western European region where important gaps were identified.

Small ponds support high terrestrial bird species richness in a Mediterranean semiarid region

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:31:02

Ponds are among the world’s most endangered freshwater ecosystems. A comprehensive knowledge of pond biodiversity is urgently required to inform effective pond management and conservation actions. Most studies about pond biodiversity focus on aquatic taxa, while the terrestrial biodiversity, especially of birds, has been little studied. Moreover, the few studies existing on pond biodiversity do not account for different detection rates of species, thus yielding biased results. Here, we apply a hierarchical Bayesian modelling technique to data obtained from visual censuses to estimate bird species richness associated with small ponds in a semiarid region, considering the imperfect detection of species.

Assessment of the Pressure Level over Lentic Waterbodies through the Estimation of Land Uses in the Catchment and Hydro-Morphological Alterations

Mon, 1 Mar 2021 14:50:44

The features of lentic waterbodies largely depend on the surrounding environment. Mediterranean coastal lagoons have been historically altered, with their catchment being highly modiﬁed for agricultural, livestock, or urban uses. Changes in land uses induce pressures that impact the waterbodies and alter their ecological status. The objectives of this paper were: to develop a methodological approach (LUPLES: Land Uses for estimating Pressure Levels to approach the Ecological Status), to quantify the main pressures on the waterbodies and to forecast the possible impacts of these pressures on their ecological status. Corine-Land Cover maps and Geographic Information System technics were used to delineate and identify land uses in the catchments. Speciﬁc algorithms were created to quantify the main pressures from land uses in the catchment and hydro-morphological alterations in the immediate basin. The values of the estimated pressure levels were correlated with ecological status indicators using metrics developed for the European Water Framework Directive. Data were obtained from European and River Basin Authorities databases. Results showed statistically signiﬁcant correlations between the pressure levels quantiﬁed by the LUPLES method and the impact level detected by biological, physical and chemical metrics. This method provides a useful approach to estimate the pressure levels affecting lentic waterbodies and could be applied to approach how they could affect their ecological status.

Artificial Wetlands and Waterbirds. A Literature Review (Septembre 2021)

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 15:53:21

Wetlands are considered as one of the most threatened habitats worldwide. In the Mediterranean basin, they are of major concern, facing a 45% loss since 1970. In this context, artificial wetlands such as dam reservoirs are playing an important role in maintaining avian diversity. Waterbird communities using reservoirs are generally less diverse than those using natural wetlands. However, the conservation value of these habitats needs further exploration given the current major resurgence in dam construction within the Mediterranean region. Here, we evaluated wintering waterbird community composition within dam reservoirs for 22 Mediterranean countries between 1993 and 2017. We characterized dam reservoirs that encompassed waterbird surveys, and tested the dissimilarities in both species and functional group composition between dam sites and other wetland types. The waterbird community within reservoirs was dominated by dabbling ducks in terms of number of individuals. We found that there were significant differences in both functional and species composition between dams and other wetland types. Diving ducks showed a close association to dam sites, whereas small wading birds were more abundant in other wetland types. Our results also highlight the importance of dam reservoirs for waterbird species of high conservation value such as Oxyura leucocephala and Vanellus vanellus, and provide evidence that under arid climates, dam reservoirs may play a major role in hosting waterbird communities, even when they are originally associated to other wetland types. We conclude, from our results, that conservation actions should prioritize the protection of biodiverse reservoirs in regions where natural wetlands are the most unavailable. This study should be further extended to include Algeria, Spain, and Libya to assess the conservation value of dam reservoirs at the Mediterranean scale.

Les dénombrements internationaux d'oiseaux d'eau. Algérie • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:02

Les dénombrements internationaux d'oiseaux d'eau. Synthèse pour 10 des pays du Réseau Oiseaux d’Eau Méditerranée (ROEM) (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:02

International Waterbird Census. Egypt • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:02

International Waterbird Census. A Summary of 10 of the Countries in the Mediterranean Waterbird Network (MVN) (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:02

Les dénombrements internationaux d'oiseaux d'eau. France • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:01

Les dénombrements internationaux d'oiseaux d'eau. Maroc • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:01

International Waterbird Census. Greece • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:01

International Waterbird Census. Italy • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:01

International Waterbird Census. Libya • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:01

International Waterbird Census. Spain • 2009-2016 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:01

International Waterbird Census. Turkey • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:01

Les dénombrements internationaux d'oiseaux d'eau.Tunisie • 2009-2018 (2021)

Wed, 26 May 2021 15:39:00

The future for Mediterranean wetlands: 50 key issues and 50 important conservation research questions

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 10:11:49

Wetlands are critically important for biodiversity and human wellbeing, but face a range of challenges. This is especially true in the Mediterranean region, where wetlands support endemic and threatened species and remain integral to human societies, but have been severely degraded in recent decades. Here, in order to raise awareness of future challenges and opportunities for Mediterranean wetlands, and to inform proactive research and management, we identified (a) 50 key issues that might affect Mediterranean wetlands between 2020 and 2050, and (b) 50 important research questions that, if answered, would have the greatest impact on the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands between 2020 and 2050. We gathered ideas through an online survey and review of recent literature. A diverse assessment panel prioritised ideas through an iterative, anonymised, Delphi-like process of scoring, voting and discussion. The prioritised issues included some that are already well known but likely to have a large impact on Mediterranean wetlands in the next 30 years (e.g. the accumulation of dams and reservoirs, plastic pollution and weak governance), and some that are currently overlooked in the context of Mediterranean wetlands (e.g. increasing desalination capacity and development of antimicrobial resistance). Questions largely focused on how best to carry out conservation interventions, or understanding the impacts of threats to inform conservation decision-making. This analysis will support research, policy and practice related to environmental conservation and sustainable development in the Mediterranean, and provides a model for similar analyses elsewhere in the world.

Preserving the Mediterranean bird flyways: Assessment and prioritization of 38 main wetlands under human and climate threats in Sardinia and Sicily (Italy)

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 18:35:58

Wetlands provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including supplying the food and shelter for a rich assemblage of waterbirds and providing the stopover sites that allow birds to make migratory journeys. Human impact and the ongoing climate change are however reducing the ability of wetlands to provide such important services. Through ﬁeld surveys, GIS analyses and climate projections, we assessed the status of, and threats to, 38 largest wetlands belonging to the Mediterranean bird ﬂyways in Sardinia and Sicily (Italy). We then combined ten decision criteria about avifaunal diversity and human/climate threats in order to prioritize the studied wetlands from most to least worthy of urgent interventions.

Antagonistic effect of natural habitat conversion on community adjustment to climate warming in nonbreeding waterbirds

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 09:43:18

While the impacts of climate and land use changes on biodiversity have been widely documented, their joint effects remain poorly understood. We evaluated how non-breeding waterbird communities adjust to climate warming along a gradient of land use change. Using mid-winter waterbird counts (132 species) at 164 major non-breeding sites in 22 Mediterranean countries, we assessed the changes in species composition during 1991–2010, regarding thermal niche position and breadth, in response to regional and local winter temperature anomalies and to natural habitat conversion. We showed that in response to the temperature increase, communities became relatively richer in warm-dwelling species, but less where natural habitat conversion occurred. At the sites affected by natural habitat conversion, the overall species richness decreased with time, while the abundance relatively increased for the species with a broader thermal niche, independently of their thermal affinities. The strong negative relationship between natural habitat conversion and community adjustment to temperature increases suggests an antagonistic interaction between climate warming and habitat change. Indeed, we found no evidence of community adjustment to climate warming when natural habitat conversion was higher than 5% over 15 years. These results underline the importance of habitat conservation in community adjustment to climate warming. Article impact statement: Waterbird communities do not adjustment to climate warming when natural habitat conversion is >5% over 15 years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Mediterranean wetland conservation in the context of climate and land cover change

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 11:35:18

Wetlands are known to support diverse and unique species assemblages. Globally, but particularly in the Mediterranean basin, they are threatened by climate change and natural habitat loss. Despite an alarming decline of wetlands over the last century, standardised and systematic site assessments at large scale do not exist. Here, we perform an integrated assessment of Mediterranean wetlands by evaluating the combination of wetland protection and anthropogenic pressures, namely climate and land cover change, and the subsequent impact on wintering waterbirds. We used a multivariate partial triadic analysis to quantify climate and land cover change for each site between 1990 and 2005. We found that wetland sites in the southeast of the Mediterranean basin combined low or no protection cover with the highest increases in temperature and losses in natural habitats. Despite these findings, these sites also lack observation data on biodiversity, which may underestimate the resulting impacts. However, there are examples where active conservation measurements contributed positively to slow down wetlands’ reduction. Biodiversity data coverage needs to be ensured, regularly updated, and extended across sites regardless of their protection level, to allow for the assessment of biodiversity trends. This should be further extended to include current investments in remote sensing approaches.

A history of discoveries and disappearances of the rare annual plant Lythrum thesioides M.Bieb.: new insights into its ecology and biology

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 19:02:13

Mediterranean temporary pools are threatened ecosystems that host a unique plant community, mostly composed of annual species with large and long-lived seed banks. The longevity of their seed bank, the scarcity of their habitat, the small size of their populations and the low frequency of above-ground vegetation result in a low probability of detection of these species. The discovery of new populations of such rare species are thus important for our understanding of the ecology of the temporary pool ecosystem. Lythrum thesioides M.Bieb., 1808 is a very rare annual species of temporary pools and river banks which was thought to be extinct in the South of France until 1998. Here, we review the distribution of the species and report the recent discovery of a population during a targeted search combining historical data on wetland occurrence on a particular geological substrate. We present new information on its autecology, pollen morphology and the karyotype. Only three populations are currently known worldwide for Lythrum thesioides, and only one of these has favorable management conditions. Thus, we outline new conservation perspectives in the context of a targeted search project and the conservation management of one population.

The Vjosa River corridor: a model of natural hydro-morphodynamics and a hotspot of highly threatened ecosystems of European significance

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:42:19

Context Large near-natural rivers have become rare in Europe, a fact reﬂected in the high conservation status of many riverine ecosystems. While the Balkan still harbors several intact river corridors, most of these are under pressure from planned hydropower constructions. Unfortunately, there is little information available on the hydromorphodynamics and biota of Balkan rivers under threat.

Yearly variation in the structure and diversity of a non-breeding passerine bird community in a Mediterranean wetland

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 15:07:18

The dynamics and structure of many bird communities are changing due to the global warming and changes in the land use and management. The Ebro Valley constitutes one of the chief wintering areas for several passerine species in Iberia, and the reed beds spread across this Valley concentrate huge numbers of birds that use them to roost, while the surrounding agricultural areas serve as main foraging habitats. The aims of this work are (1) to quantify how variable a non-breeding passerine bird community associated to a reed bed area in the Ebro Valley is, and, (2) to test for the effect of weather on possible annual fluctuations in species’ proportions at a regional/local scale.

Assessing the effectiveness of the Ramsar Convention in preserving wintering waterbirds in the Mediterranean

Wed, 4 Mar 2020 16:52:13

Although biological conservation is based on international agreements, its effectiveness depends on how countries implement such recommendations as effective conservation tools. The Ramsar Convention is the oldest international treaty for wetland and waterbird conservation, establishing the world's largest network of protected areas. However, since it does not constitute any binding measure, its effectiveness in protecting wintering waterbird populations at an international scale has been questioned. Here, we use long-term (1991–2012) count data to assess the effectiveness of the Ramsar Convention in the Mediterranean Basin. We compared abundance and temporal trends of 114 waterbird species between 251 Ramsar wetlands and 3486 non-Ramsar wetlands. We found that the Ramsar network is critical for wintering waterbirds, concentrating nearly half of all waterbirds counted in the Mediterranean Basin in only 7% of monitored wetlands. Waterbird trends followed a northwest-southeast gradient, with a population decrease in the East. A significant and positive Ramsar effect on population trends was only found for the species of higher conservation concern in the Maghreb, particularly when a management plan was implemented. The Ramsar Convention was previously used on very important wetlands for waterbirds in Southern Europe, but is now an underused conservation tool. Our study suggests weaknesses in the use of Ramsar as an effective conservation tool in most of the Mediterranean Basin. However, the Ramsar Convention effectiveness to enhance waterbird populations in the Maghreb should encourage strengthening the Ramsar Convention. It should be done particularly in countries with limited environmental agreements and by systematic implementation of management plans. Article impact statement Identification of the regional disparities in the Ramsar Convention effectiveness to enhance waterbird populations across the Mediterranean Basin.

Perception et adaptation au changement climatique dans les deltas méditerranéens

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 14:02:10

Les deltas méditerranéens sont des espaces dont les milieux dépendent des aménagements anthropiques des fleuves qui les alimentent. En tant que côtes basses à climat méditerranéen, ils sont particulièrement vulnérables aux effets probables des changements climatiques. L'étude de trois deltas (Rhône, Vardar et Gediz) montre que les pratiques de leurs habitants associent adaptation locale et prise de conscience globale, mais aucune adaptation efficace n'est possible sans gestion concertée à plusieurs échelles.

Chapitre 3 : Biodiversité et systèmes écosystémiques (2020)

Thu, 27 May 2021 15:18:53

Les écosystèmes côtiers et marins de la Méditerranée présentent un niveau élevé de biodiversité et d'endémisme. La mer Méditerranée est considérée comme un point chaud de la biodiversité, représentant seulement 0,3% du volume global des océans tout en abritant 7% des espèces marines identifiées dans le monde, avec le plus haut taux d'endémisme (20-30%) des espèces marines dans le monde. Sous l'effet des activités humaines des dernières décennies, la biodiversité méditerranéenne a subi des pressions croissantes d'origine humaine telles que la pollution, la surexploitation des ressources biologiques, le changement d'affectation des terres et le développement des infrastructures côtières, les modifications de la dynamique fluviale, l'augmentation de l'utilisation de la mer et les effets du changement climatique. Ces pressions ont réduit l'étendue des zones sauvages et des écosystèmes naturels sur terre et en mer, et ont altéré la capacité des écosystèmes à fournir des services écosystémiques vitaux pour l'homme. Environ 11 % des espèces marines et 14 % des espèces terrestres et côtières sont menacées d'extinction, la plupart étant endémiques. Les espèces non indigènes sont de plus en plus présentes dans la mer Méditerranée, avec un total de plus de 1 000 espèces marines non indigènes recensées, dont plus de 100 sont invasives. Le Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement/Plan d'action pour la Méditerranée (PNUE/PAM) a fait de la biodiversité l'un des principaux piliers de son approche écosystémique, dans le but de parvenir à un bon état écologique (BEE) de la mer Méditerranée et de soutenir le développement d'actions efficaces pour sauvegarder et restaurer la biodiversité. Ces actions doivent être entreprises de toute urgence pour éviter des pertes irréversibles en termes de services écosystémiques et de biodiversité. Une mesure qui s'est avérée efficace, si elle est mise en œuvre correctement, consiste à créer des aires marines protégées (AMP). La couverture des AMP a augmenté au cours de la dernière décennie, et est proche de la couverture de 10% fixée comme objectif pour 2020 dans les objectifs d'Aichi. Cependant, l'efficacité de la gestion et l'application de la loi restent un défi.

Zones humides côtières et crise climatique : Pourquoi la Méditerranée a besoin des solutions fondées sur la nature (2020)

Wed, 12 May 2021 10:47:19

Coastal Wetlands and the Climate Crisis: Why the Mediterranean Needs Nature-Based Solutions (2020)

Wed, 12 May 2021 10:46:52

Chapter 3: Biodiversity and ecosystem services (2020)

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:43:31

Mediterranean Coastal and marine ecosystems have a high level of biodiversity and endemism. The Mediterranean Sea is considered a biodiversity hotspot, representing just 0.3% of the global ocean volume while hosting 7% of identified global marine species, with the highest rate of endemism (20-30%) of marine species in the world. Driven by human activities in recent decades, Mediterrane- an biodiversity has experienced increasing human-induced pressures such as pollution, the overexploitation of biological resources, land-use change and coastal infrastructure development, changes in fluvial dynamics, increasing sea use and climate change effects. These pressures have reduced the extent of wild areas and natural ecosystems on land and at sea, and have altered the ecosystems’ capacity to provide ecosystem services that are vital to humans. Around 11% of marine species and 14% of coast- al terrestrial species are threatened with extinction, most of which are endemic. Non-indigenous species are increasingly present in the Mediterranean Sea, with a total of more than 1,000 non-indigenous marine species record- ed, of which more than 100 are invasive. United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP) has made biodiversity one of the main pillars of its Ecosystem Approach, with the aim of achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) of the Mediterranean Sea and supporting the development of effective action to safeguard and restore biodiversity. Such action must be undertaken urgently to avoid irreversible losses in terms of ecosystem services and biodiversity. One measure that has been proven effective, if implemented correctly, consists in setting up Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). MPA coverage has increased throughout the past decade, and is close to the 10% coverage set as a 2020 objective in the Aichi Targets. However, management effectiveness and enforcement remain challenging.

Nouvelle trousse d’outils pour l’Inventaire national des zones humides (2020)

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 12:43:23

La trousse d’outils pour l’inventaire national des zones humides répond à la demande d’assistance des pays pour mettre en œuvre ou à jour leurs inventaires et faire rapport sur l’étendue des zones humides. Son lancement est donc très opportun. Elle contient des conseils pratiques et des exemples sur la manière de dresser un inventaire, notamment un processus systématique et des ressources soutenant chaque recommandation. Elle présente aussi des exemples de bonnes pratiques, des méthodes de collecte de données, notamment l’observation de la Terre, et d’utilisation des inventaires pour la prise de décisions. Elle établit le lien entre l’Inventaire national des zones humides et les cibles des ODD et décrit comment présenter des arguments en faveur de la conservation et de l’utilisation rationnelle des zones humides. Cette trousse d’outils a pour vocation d’être utilisée par une grande diversité de parties prenantes actives en matière d’évaluation, de suivi et de conservation des zones humides. Elle servira également à concevoir du matériel de formation.

Environmental water requirements of wetlands and their importance for river basin management in the Mediterranean, including the effects of climate change on natural water flow. (2020)

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:12:10

To achieve long-term conservation goals and objectives, investment in the knowledge and capacitiy of wetland managers is as critical as investment in direct conservation measures. Without this investment in people at all levels (from government staff to local wetland managers), there will be little chance of securing the wise use of wetlands. In essence, long-term sustainable wetland use and management depend on building essential human and social capital. This Briefing note, developed by the Specialist Group on Water (WaterSG) of the Scientific and Technical Network of MedWet (MedWet/STN), introduces a cognitive framework for the quantity, quality and timing of water flows required to sustain wetlands in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this note is to support the conservation and the sustainable wise use of Mediterranean wetlands, in accordance with the implementation of the Ramsar Convention. This document includes both theoretical and practical information, reporting on specific case studies from the Mediterranean region, and provides tailor-made management recommendations to support and serve both site managers and policy makers to assist them in developing and implementing adaptation strategies in the face of climate change.

Evolution of wetlands in Mediterranean region (2020)

Tue, 9 Jun 2020 15:19:11

This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge of Mediterranean wetlands in the sense of the Ramsar Convention and their recent trends, largely based on the results produced by the Mediterranean Wetlands Observatory. It shows an overall picture of continued loss and degradation of Mediterranean wetlands, in terms of numbers, diversity, surface area, abundance of wetland-dependent species, etc. Among the key factors explaining this situation are urbanization, the development of agriculture, dam construction, and increasing water consumption. The capacity of Mediterranean wetlands to provide ecosystem services has therefore declined. However, the countries continue to commit to the protection of wetlands and the number of sites designated under the Ramsar Convention continues to increase—although implementation of their management plans remains an issue.

Predicting the vulnerability of seasonally-flooded wetlands to climate change across the Mediterranean Basin

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 17:01:54

Wetlands have been declining worldwide over the last century with climate change becoming an additional pressure, especially in regions already characterized by water deficit. This paper investigates how climate change will affect the values and functions of Mediterranean seasonally-flooded wetlands with emergent vegetation. We simulated the future evolution of water balance, wetland condition and water volumes necessary to maintain these ecosystems at mid- and late- 21st century, in 229 localities around the Mediterranean basin. We considered future projections of the relevant climatic variables under two Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios assuming a stabilization (RCP4.5) or increase (RCP 8.5) of greenhouse gases emissions. We found similar increases of water deficits at most localities around 2050 under both RCP scenarios. By 2100, however, water deficits under RCP 8.5 are expected to be more severe and will impact all localities. Simulations performed under current conditions show that 97% of localities could have wetland habitats in good state. By 2050, however, this proportion would decrease to 81% and 68% under the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios, respectively, decreasing further to 52% and 27% by 2100. Our results suggest that wetlands can persist with up to a 400 mm decrease in annual precipitation. Such resilience to climate change is attributed to the semi-permanent character of wetlands (lower evaporation on dry ground) and their capacity to act as reservoir (higher precipitation expected in some countries during winter). Countries at highest risk of wetland degradation and loss are Algeria, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Degradation of wetlands with emergent vegetation will negatively affect their biodiversity and the services they provide by eliminating animal refuges and primary resources for industry and tourism. A sound strategy to preserve these wetlands would consist of proactive management to reduce non-climate. stressors. / Grâce à un partenariat avec l’institut des Sciences Atmosphériques et du Climat du Conseil National de la Recherche à Turin dans le cadre du projet H2020 Ecopotential, les projections météo pour les période 2050 et 2100 ont été estimées pour 229 localités autour de la Méditerranée et intégrées à mar-o-sel.net selon deux scénarios, l’un prévoyant une stabilisation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (RCP4.5) et l’autre la poursuite de leur croissance actuelle (RCP8.5). Des simulations ont permis de paramétrer des zones humides virtuelles pour chaque localité selon les conditions climatiques actuelles, puis en fonction des conditions climatiques de 2050 et 2100 selon les deux scénarios. Des valeurs seuils en termes de durée d’inondation et de sécheresse nécessaire au bon état des zones humides ont été définies pour que l’impact des changements climatiques puisse être visualiser en termes de dégradation ou transition d’écosystèmes. Malgré un déficit hydrique accru sur l’ensemble de la Méditerranée en 2100 (de -239 mm ou -472 mm en moyenne selon les scénarios), certaines ZH pourront se maintenir en bon état grâce à leur caractère semi-permanent (évaporation moindre lorsque le sol est sec) et leur capacité de réservoir (précipitations accrues en hiver dans certains pays). Néanmoins, c’est seulement 68% (2050) et 27% (2100) des zones humides qui se maintiendront en bon état si les émissions de gaz à effet de serre poursuivent leur croissance actuelle. Le volume annuel moyen d’eau nécessaire pour préserver la biodiversité et les services rendus par ces écosystèmes variera d’un million (sites légèrement dégradés) à plus de 3,5 millions (sites en voie d’assèchement permanent) de litres d’eau par année et hectare. Les pays les plus à risque quant à la dégradation ou perte de zones humides sont l’Algérie, le Maroc, le Portugal et l’Espagne.

L’état des zones humides dans le monde et en Méditerranée

Thu, 3 Oct 2019 15:54:18

Assessing risk of collapse of Lake Burullus Ramsar site in Egypt using IUCN Red List of Ecosystems

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 14:43:50

The IUCN Red List of Ecosystems (RLE) assessment is a new powerful scheme that identiﬁes ecosystems that are at risk of collapse due to global environmental changes, which can help any mitigation actions aimed at conserving and rescuing these natural ecosystems. The current study applied RLE assessment protocol on Lake Burullus ecosystem, a highly productive wetland ecosystem, Ramsar site and International Bird Area (IBA) of Egypt. A conceptual model of the key ecosystem processes for Burullus wetland was constructed. The application of RLE followed the standard protocol for the ﬁrst four criteria; (A) declines in distribution, (B) restricted distribution, (C) degradation of the abiotic components, and (D) regarding the assessment of the disruption of biotic processes and interactions. However, data were insuﬃcient for assessing Criterion (E) that entails conducting quantitative estimates of the risk of collapse. Multi-date satellite images were obtained and processed to estimate the changes in the spatial distribution under criteria (A) and (B) of the study area. For evaluating Criteria (C) and (D), long-term data were collected from literature and previous works to cover the time frame of the assessment as much as possible. The results from the RLE assessment revealed that the status of the ecosystem is Critically Endangered (CR), which was attributed to various types of threats that caused degradation of the natural quality and integrity of the ecosystem. Although the RLE assessment provides a coherent approach for identifying ecosystems vulnerable to human-induced changes; data insuﬃciency can be an impediment for the eﬃcient application of the RLE assessment. Remotely-sensed data can help in derivation of suitable spectral indicators of the status of the ecosystems structure and functioning that might overcome some of the challenges of data adequacy and relevance to the RLE assessment especially for the understudied and data-deﬁcient ecosystems.

Conservation of the island wetlands of the Mediterranean Basin (MedIsWet) .The Island wetlands of Malta. A technical report on the project and its outcomes (December, 2019)

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:44:11

Conservation of the island wetlands of the Mediterranean Basin (MedIsWet) .The Island wetlands of Sardinia (Italy). A technical report on the project and its outcomes (December, 2019)

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:44:08

In general, factors responsible for losses and degradation of wetlands areas in Sardinia (and also worldwide) include disconnecting floodplain wetlands from flood flows, eutrophication, pollution, overgrazing, harvesting plants and animals, global warming, invasions of exotics, and the practices of filling, dying and draining, and habitat fragmentation due to the construction of road and harbour facilities. Eutrophication is widespread, which, together with effects of invasive species, reduces biotic complexity. The effects of urbanization will be detailed below in this section. For their multiple ecosystem services, the need for wetland conservation is widely recognized (i.e. the Ramsar Convention, Ramsar 2013) but has long been challenged by national development policies and short-term economic/politics priorities. Thus, drainage and conversion to an extensive agriculture are presently turning wetlands into deep anthropogenic landscapes and doing habitats change at too accelerating pace to have the chance of resilience. Generalizations and trends gleaned from this project should be considered as a starting point for developing world-scale data sets.

Birds of the Camargue and Mediterranean lagoons (2019)

Wed, 4 Nov 2020 12:01:48

The Governance of Coastal Wetlands in the Mediterranean – a Handbook. (2019)

Tue, 3 Mar 2020 10:58:18

Guardians of the world’s most important natural areas like the Mediterranean’s coastal wetlands have to manage complex ecosystems while reconciling a bewildering array of social, economic and political agendas, from the global to the local. This is governance. Concise and based on real-world expertise, this unique guide is designed to support hard-pressed managers, officials and advisors. This is the first governance “recipe book” with linked, easy to use, on-line planning tools to help design effcient governance models that reduce conflict and save time. The team behind this Handbook are experienced managers who understand the time pressures of the people working on our planet’s precious natural sites. This is governance brought down to earth from the dizzying heights of political science. This is governance for people in a hurry, an essential guide for the managers of our most important and precious natural sites.

Management and Protection of Mediterranean Groundwater-Related Coastal Wetlands and their Services (2019)

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:57:10

In the framework of the GEF/UNEP-MAP Strategic Partnership for the Mediterranean Sea Large Marine Ecosystem, UNESCO-IHP executed a component on “Management of coastal aquifers and groundwater”, which included an activity on “Implementation of eco-hydrogeology applications for management and protection of coastal wetlands”. The aim of the activity was to reverse degradation trends in coastal aquifers and groundwater-related coastal wetlands and enhance_ human wellbeing, namely by providing appropriate capacities for the integration of an ecosystem services approach into groundwater and wetlands assessment and management. To this end, UNESCO-IHP sought the cooperation of experts in order to design and carry out actions aiming to generate a new conceptual framework integrating hydrogeological, ecosystem, and management considerations_ in the management of Mediterranean groundwater-related coastal wetlands. Among key actions, a background document was prepared, detailing the basic aspects to be considered for an improved management of Mediterranean groundwater-related coastal wetlands through the assessment of the interlinkages between groundwater _ows, wetlands services, and human wellbeing. The present document sets forth the conceptual and empirical aspects that must be examined and followed to better understand the relationships between groundwaterrelated wetlands, geology, hydrology, and services to human well-being. It also presents methods for_ inventorying the basic information needed to characterize wetlands and aquifer functioning and to assess wetlands’ contribution to human well-being. Finally, it proposes guidelines and recommendations for the evaluation and integrated management of Mediterranean groundwater-related coastal wetlands in order to preserve the sustaining role of groundwater in relation the many environmental services that wetlands provide.

Biodiversity survey of the Vjosa River catchment – Poçem & Kalivaç areas (Albania), May 2019 (2019)

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 11:39:51

The Balkan region is where one can still find the wildest and most beautiful rivers of Europe. These rivers are one of the most important hotspots for European freshwater biodiversity. However, about 2,800 HPP (hydropower plants) are projected to be built in the next few years, leaving very few rivers untouched. Among the multitude of rivers currently threatened by dam projects in the Balkan region is the transboundary river Aoos/ Vjosa with its source in Greece and its mouth in the Adriatic Sea in Albania. 38 hydropower plants are planned along the Aoos/ Vjosa catchment, including 31 projected in the Albanian catchment. The first hydropower plant that enetred the implementation process in Albania along the Vjosa River is the Kalivaç project close to the city of Tepelena. The construction of this dam started in 2007, but was halted several times and is currently only 30% constructed. The biggest threat along the Albanian part of the river is the planned construction of the Poçem hydropower plant. Given the immediate and important threats faced by the river systems of the Balkan region, several international initiatives have been engaged including the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign led by RiverWatch and EuroNatur NGOs in cooperation with local partners, aiming to save this European heritage from destruction. The Aoos / Vjosa River has been under the close scrutiny of the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign. Scientific knowledge about this river and its biodiversity is very limited as until recently it was one of the least explored large rivers in Europe. A biological baseline survey is being carried out, involving the contribution of many scientists, aimed at collecting data on the ecological aspects most relevant for the Environmental Impact Assessment. These studies aim to provide scientific information for decision makers and to facilitate cooperation between Albanian institutions and international experts, researchers and national authorities for the protection of the river. In order to contribute to this initiative, a team of biologists from the Tour du Valat (France) and the University of Tirana (Albania) organized a rapid survey in May 2019, targeting areas currently threatened by Poçem and Kalivaç HPP projects. This short report presents the survey carried out, its main results and it provides information on the foreseen impacts these dam projects could have on the biodiversity we studied.

Suivi des zones humides méditerranéennes par les outils d'observation de la terre (2019)

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 14:42:23

Conservation of the island wetlands of the Mediterranean Basin (MedIsWet) .The Island wetlands of Cyprus. A technical report on the project and its outcomes (2018)

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:44:05

The status of Mediterranean coastal wetlands (2018)

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 10:25:33

In the frame of the MAVA project “A Campaign on Coastal wetlands”, this report aims to provide a state of the art assessment of the available knowledge about Mediterranean coastal wetlands. It is not a full systematic synthesis of available literature, but rather a compilation of available data and knowledge with the partners of the MedWet Initiative and MAVA projects (2018-2022) complemented by cherry-picked results available in the literature. Where possible, detailed information for Albania, Italy, Montenegro, and Tunisia is provided, as they are countries of particular interest for this MAVA project. This report can therefore serve as a source of inspiration and information for authorities and decision makers at national and European level when they are involved in negotiations with impacts on Mediterranean coastal wetlands. In addition, it can be used by active voices in social media, such as the private (business) sector, the general public, the media, and consultants. This report contributes to the four key topics: - Ecosystem processes - Recreation/tourism/cultural aspects - Water provision and regulation - Climate change

Importance des politiques de conservation pour faciliter l'ajustement des communautés d'oiseaux d'eau hivernants au réchauffement climatique en Méditerranée (2018)

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 16:30:12

Les activités humaines menacent gravement la biodiversité. Sous le terme de changements globaux, la sur-exploitation des populations et la destruction/dégradation des habitats arrivent en tête de liste des facteurs responsables de l’érosion de la biodiversité. Le changement climatique gagne en magnitude et ajoute une pression supplémentaire sur les espèces. En réponse à l’augmentation des températures du globe, les communautés se réorganisent suite au déplacement de la distribution géographique des espèces vers les pôles. Mais l’accumulation des pressions anthropiques est susceptible de produire des effets d’interaction limitant l’ajustement des communautés au réchauffement climatique. Dans ce contexte critique, la biologie de la conservation a pour but de concilier les activités humaines avec la conservation de la biodiversité. Dans cette thèse j’ai cherché à comprendre comment l’accumulation des pressions anthropiques peut limiter l’ajustement des communautés au réchauffement climatique et à identifier les solutions qui pourraient être mises en place pour faciliter leur adaptation à ce réchauffement. J’ai pris pour modèle d’étude les espèces d’oiseaux d’eau hivernants dans les pays du bassin méditerranéen. Ces espèces emblématiques bénéficient d’un dénombrement international destiné à suivre leurs populations en réponse aux prélèvements par la chasse et à la dégradation des zones humides dont elles dépendent. La Méditerranée est une région fortement anthropisée où l’utilisation des ressources naturelles exerce d’importantes pressions sur les zones humides et leur biodiversité. En réponse, les pays ont différentes stratégies pour protéger ces écosystèmes, ce qui fait de cette région un plan expérimental intéressant pour mesurer l’impact dans changements globaux sur l’assemblage des espèces en fonction des mesures de conservation mises en oeuvre. En étudiant la réponse des communautés au réchauffement climatique sous un gradient de perte/dégradation d’habitat, je montre que l’ajustement des communautés est réduit, voire empêché, par la dégradation des zones humides. La Convention Ramsar vise justement à protéger les zones humides et leur biodiversité en maintenant une exploitation raisonnée des ressources naturelles. En évaluant l’effet de cette convention, je montre que son efficacité à conserver les populations d’oiseaux est dépendante de l’implémentation d’autres outils de protection, mais que son rôle est crucial dans les pays où la législation environnementale est faible. Enfin, j’évalue la capacité des conventions internationales à faciliter l’ajustement des communautés au réchauffement climatique grâce à la réduction des pressions qui s’exercent sur les populations. J’ai comparé la réponse des communautés entre les pays ayant ratifié la Convention de Berne, ceux ayant engagé son application strictement réglementaire sous la Directive Oiseaux (Union Européenne) et ceux n’ayant pas ratifié ces conventions. Le résultat est clair, plus la réglementation est précise et strictement réglementaire, plus les communautés et les espèces strictement protégées s’ajustent à l’augmentation des températures. En conclusion, les activités humaines sont une menace pour la biodiversité, mais les mesures de conservation, en réduisant les pressions sur les populations facilitent leur adaptation au changement climatique. La conservation des oiseaux d’eau nécessite une collaboration internationale et l’établissement de lois strictement réglementaires protégeant les zones humides et les espèces, tout en assurant une utilisation durable des ressources.

Les zones humides méditerranéennes, enjeux et perspectives 2 : Solutions pour des zones humides méditerranéennes durables (2018)

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 10:35:17

Ce nouveau rapport actualise la situation des zones humides méditerranéennes depuis 2012, année de publication du rapport "Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook", qui a été la première évaluation régionale fondée sur des indicateurs de l’état des zones humides et des problèmes auxquels elles font face. Ce rapport, comprenant 16 fiches d’indicateurs, fournit un appui régional aux résultats du premier rapport de la Convention de Ramsar intitulé "Perspectives mondiales pour les zones humides (GWO) : État mondial des zones humides et de leurs services à l’humanité",

Mediterranean Wetlands: a Gradient from Natural Resilience to a Fragile Social-Ecosystem (2018)

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 11:57:22

Which ecosystem services are addressed? Hazard regulation (flooding) is the most important one For the rest we mention: Provisioning: fishing, freshwater Regulating: habitats for biodiversity Cultural: bird watching What is the research question addressed? How is the resilience of ecosystem services provided by Mediterranean wetlands changing over time? Which method has been applied? Literature review What is the main result? Examples of how different aspects of ES flows are being affected on the one hand through changes in the ecosystems and on the other hand through changes in the societal demand What is concluded, recommended? The general trends of declining biodiversity and reducing water availability, as well as an increase in demand for ecosystem services, make Mediterranean wetlands and the people that depend on them less resilient and increasingly exposed and vulnerable to physical and economical hazards that naturally occur in the Mediterranean basin

Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook 2: Solutions for sustainable Mediterranean Wetlands (2018)

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 10:40:07

This report updates the situation for Mediterranean wetlands since 2012, the year of publication of "The Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook", which was the first regional indicator-based assessment of the status of wetlands and the challenges that they face. The 2018 report, through its 16 indicator factsheets, provides regional support to the findings of the Ramsar Convention’s first Global Wetland Outlook (GWO): the State of the World’s Wetlands

Opérationnalisation de l'indicateur de suivi des services culturels, récréatifs et éducatifs, des zones humides en Méditerranée : Analyse des résultats sur 19 sites (2018)

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:39:27

La présente étude représente la continuité du travail M2 sur le « La mise en œuvre du suivi de l’indicateur des services culturels des zones humides en Méditerranée ». Elle a pour objectif d’analyser les résultats d’opérationnalisation de cet indicateur. Ce dernier, élaboré en 2016, est basé sur l’approche des capitaux multiples portant sur: un capital naturel (représenté par la zone humides disposant d’un centre d’accueil de visiteurs), un capital construit (représenté par les infrastructures et services proposés par les gestionnaires des sites sur la zone humide), un capital humain et un capital social. L’objectif de l’indicateur est de mesurer l’impact des capitaux naturel et construit (capitaux de condition) sur les capitaux humain et social (capitaux d’impact). Cette étude porte sur 19 zones humides, réparties sur 10 pays dans 4 sous-régions méditerranéennes. Elle est basée sur la conduite de deux types d’enquêtes : avec le(s) gestionnaire(s) et avec les visiteurs des sites. Les données des questionnaires sont analysées sur deux niveaux : un niveau agrégé à l’échelle régionale méditerranéenne et à l’échelle sous-régionale (Moyen Orient, Maghreb, Union Européenne et Balkans) et un niveau désagrégé par site. Au niveau agrégé, l’analyse porte sur le calcul de l’indice moyen sur les 19 sites qui est de l’ordre de 0.671. Les indices par sous-régions et par sites sont comparés à cet indice moyen pour avoir une idée sur leurs performances et la compactibilité de leurs résultats avec la logique de construction de l’indicateur. Pour le niveau désagrégé, l’analyse porte sur les 12 variables qui composent l’indicateur dans trois sites : Réghaia en Algérie, Anjar Kfar Zabad au Liban et Ghar el Melh en Tunisie. Cette analyse montre les capitaux de performance de l’indicateur./ This study represents the continuity of the M2 on the "Implementation of the monitoring of the indicator of cultural services of wetlands in the Mediterranean". It aims to analyze the results of operationalization of this indicator. The latter, developed in 2016, is based on the multi-capital approach. This approach gathers four types of capitals: natural capital (represented by wetlands with a visitor center), constructed capital (represented by infrastructure and services proposed by site managers in the wetland), human capital and social capital. The objective of the indicator is to measure the impact of natural and constructed capital (conditional capital) on human and social capital (impact capital). This study covers 19 wetlands spread over 10 countries in 4 Mediterranean sub-regions. It is based on two types of surveys: with the manager (s) and with the visitors of the sites. The data is analyzed on two levels: an aggregated level at the Mediterranean and sub-regional scales (Middle East, Maghreb, European Union and Balkans) and a level disaggregated by site. At the aggregate level, the analysis focuses on the calculation of the average index on the 19 sites (0.671). Indexes by sub-regions and by sites are compared to this average index to get an idea on their performance and the compactibility of their results with the construction logic of the indicator. For the disaggregated level, the analysis covers the 12 variables of the indicator in three sites: Réghaia in Algeria, Anjar Kfar Zabad in Lebanon and Ghar el Melh in Tunisia. This analysis level shows the performance capital of the indicator.

Gastronomic heritage in Mediterranean wetlands - Healthy wetlands, healthy eating (2018)

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:34:15

Les zones humides et les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) — Medwet (2018)

Fri, 13 Jul 2018 17:48:23

The multiple benefits and services provided by wetlands are essential in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs represent an ambitious agenda to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030. This 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a comprehensive roadmap for a sustainable future. Seventeen goals, each with a number of concrete targets, translate this programme into action. This report highlights the critical role of wetlands in relation to the SDGs, and more specifically underscores the importance of conserving, using wisely and restoring this precious resource. The wise and sustainable use of wetlands as guided by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands will be critical in helping countries achieve their SDG targets. The Ramsar Convention’s fourth Strategic Plan (2016-2024) identifies four overarching goals and 19 specific targets that directly support achievement of the SDGs as well as the Aichi Targets set up by the Convention on Biological Diversity. The integrated nature of the SDGs, Aichi Targets and the Ramsar Strategic Plan call for increased integration and synergies across existing multilateral agendas.

Isoëto-Nanojuncetea in Puglia (S-Italy): first phytosociological survey

Tue, 6 Mar 2018 16:57:15

Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTP) are considered among the most interesting habitats in the Mediterranean bioclimatic region due to the range of rare and threatened taxa they host. Their ephemeral vegetation presents a particular floristic composition, adapted to unstable ecological conditions due to the alternation between flood and drought. Indeed, these amphibian plant species are established on soils flooded in winter and dry since early summer. The water depth and inundation period determine the plant communities distribution. The vegetation can be referred to the class Isoëto-Nanojuncetea, that has a wide distribution and is represented in the study area by two orders: Isoëtetalia, Mediterranean and W-European, with spring and early summer bloom, and Nanocyperetalia, C-European, with late summer and autumn bloom. This study describes for the first time the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea plant communities in Puglia Region, in SE-Italy, where the class distribution was unknown up to now. The here adopted syntaxonomical scheme is consistent with numerical analysis, resulting in homogenous floristic and ecological communities that correspond to syntaxa at association level. The phytosociological approach to the interpretation and management of vegetation and biodiversity has been recently revived by the habitat-type classification adopted by the European 92/43/EEC “Habitat” Directive in its Annex I. The here considered plant commu- nities belong to the priority habitat “3170* Mediterranean temporary ponds”. Aiming to typify them, 170 surveys were carried out in temporary pools over a wide area resulting from a detailed survey that took into account the whole Puglia territory. These complexes of vegetation are very sensitive to the environmental and anthropic disturbance, so they might be good bioindicators with high value for habitat monitoring and conservation. Key words: amphibious vegetation, biodiversity, “Habitat” Directive 92/43/EEC, Mediterranean, Natura 2000, priority habitat, temporary wetlands.

Ready for climate change? Geographic trends in the protection status of critical sites for Western Palearctic ducks

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 09:18:44

The geographic range of many migratory bird populations is shifting in response to climate change. Protected areas play a major role in the conservation of many such species, yet these reserves are static so a geographic mismatch between the habitat needs of the birds and the network of protected areas may gradually appear. Ducks in the Western Palearctic are most likely to shift their distribution northwards and eastwards in response to climate change, so we evaluated whether the mean protection level of the most critical sites for ducks shows any latitudinal or longitudinal trend. From the description of site protection level in the Critical Site Network database (little/none to full protection) a site protection score was computed, ranging from 0 (little/none) to 3 (full protection). More northern sites had greater mean protection scores. Conversely, a negative longitudinal gradient was identified, with much poorer protection of critical duck sites in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. This is where duck populations are currently the largest, and among the areas where duck populations are expected to increase in the future following climate change, although currently a relatively high proportion also show decreasing population trends. The site protection score was also greatest, on average, in member states of the European Union rather than in other European countries, suggesting EU directives have been successful at improving the level of protection of the most important wetlands for ducks. Although ducks could benefit from further conservation of the sites they use anywhere within their geographic range, and there is room for improvement of protection score in all areas, this study suggests that future site protection efforts should be internationally coordinated, and first targeted at sites east of the Mediterranean shore.

Mangrove Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus avicenniae) at the Red Sea in Egypt

Fri, 19 May 2017 18:24:44

In April 2012, we discovered Mangrove Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus avicenniae at the Red Sea coast near Hamata, in southern Egypt. This was the first record of this subspecies for the Western Palearctic. During additional surveys in subsequent years, we also observed breeding Mangrove Reed Warblers. In addition to morphological and genetic data, we collected information on breeding habitat, breeding biology (including the first description of salt-preserved nests), abundance, other species present and population threats. In July–August 2015 we found A. s. avicenniae in the mangroves of Shura Al-Rowaisseya, on the Sinai Peninsula. Further research on this taxon is recommended to clarify its distribution, breeding ecology and migratory status.

Multi-annual and seasonal patterns of waterbird assemblages in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (El Mellah lagoon) of Northeastern Algeria

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 15:41:40

Recently, Mediterranean coastal lagoons have raised considerable environmental concerns. Long-term studies of seasonal changes in waterbird assemblages are therefore extremely important in terms of ecological relevance and conservation of these sensitive ecosystems. a n ornithological survey of four years was carried out in a typical costal wetland (El Mellah lagoon) of northeastern Algeria. intra-seasonal comparison of waterbird assemblages (diversity indices) demonstrates clear changes between the wintering and the breeding periods. i t seems that the first one was rich in term of species number than the second season (43 against 24). i n contrast, the breeding seasons were more equilibrate (high values of Simpson, Shannon and evenness index). additionally, curves in the diversity/dominance diagram revealed that both wintering and breeding assemblages share the same characteristics of community structure, few dominant species (with intermediate relative abundance) and many rare species with the relative abundance lower than 0.1. invertebrates (25 species) and piscivorous (11 species) are the most abundant guilds over the four years of study (no significant differences among years have been calculated). The marked decline in bird species diversity recorded in this study (in comparison with previous studies) is mainly due to salinity oscillations (due to aquaculture activities) and may be of concern to wetland managers and it might be useful to provide some guidelines about the characteristics that coastal lagoons have to follow in the construction process to enhance the biodiversity.

Habitat selection in the Iberian Marsh Sparrow, genetic structure and population trend: applications for its conservation (2017)

Thu, 9 Mar 2023 11:31:19

La perte d'habitat, la fragmentation du paysage et la perte de connectivité qui en découle ont été un processus particulièrement intense et négatif dans les zones humides des régions méditerranéennes au cours des deux derniers siècles, ce qui a conduit certaines des espèces les plus étroitement liées à ces zones à accroître leur isolement et à aggraver leur état de conservation. Le bruant des roseaux (Emberiza schoeniclus) est l'une de ces espèces. Il s'agit d'un passereau de répartition paléarctique qui n'est pas menacé au niveau mondial, bien que certaines sous-espèces le soient, comme le bruant des marais ibérique (E. s. witherbyi), qui se reproduit dans plusieurs zones humides à l'intérieur de la péninsule ibérique et sur les côtes méditerranéennes espagnoles, françaises et marocaines. La dernière estimation de la taille de la population en Espagne correspond à 2015 (122-136 couples répartis dans 9 zones humides). Par conséquent, connaître et comprendre la structure de leurs populations, leurs exigences en matière d'habitat et la façon dont elles influencent leur déclin, objectifs de cette thèse, sont des questions cruciales pour définir les stratégies et les actions requises pour aborder leur conservation de toute urgence. Les résultats obtenus suggèrent que les populations de bruants des marais ibériques ne montrent aucun signe de réduction de la variation génétique malgré la faible taille effective des populations, bien qu'elles montrent un isolement entre les populations, probablement en réponse à l'existence d'un flux génétique plus important en raison de la faible connectivité entre les zones humides qu'elles habitent. Au moment de l'étude, aucune population ne présentait d'effets de goulot d'étranglement.

Conservación de las zonas húmedas de las Islas del Mediterráneo (MedIsWet) - Islas Baleares - Informe final de actividades 2017 (2017)

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:44:13

En este sentido, en 2016 WWF España ha iniciado la elaboración de un inventario de zonas húmedas en las Islas Baleares siguiendo la metodología de WWF Grecia, que catalogó más de 800 humedales en las islas griegas. En 2015, WWF Grecia impulsó, con apoyo de su gobierno, la aprobación de una resolución sobre "Conservación de zonas húmedas en las islas de la cuenca mediterránea" en la COP12 del Convenio de Ramsar (Resolución XII.14) (Ver Anexo 1). Ahora, WWF España está impulsando la aplicación de esta resolución del convenio de Ramsar inventariando las zonas húmedas de las Islas Baleares, para ponerlas en valor y que la información está a disposición de todos los interesados a través de una base de datos disponible en una página web, además de lograr su protección y su incorporación al inventario de zonas húmedas del Plan Hidrológico. Para ello, entre 2016 y 2017 se ha llevado a cabo el inventario de zonas húmedas en las Islas Baleares, ya mencionado, siguiendo la metodología de WWF Grecia, se han llevado a cabo tres talleres participativos con sectores relevantes en las Islas Baleares sobre la conservación de los humedales en islas y se ha preparado una propuesta de restauración de una zona húmeda en las Baleares. También se han mantenido contactos y reuniones con las autoridades ambientales e hídricas de las Baleares y se han denunciado afecciones a zonas húmedas detectadas durante el trabajo de campo de este trabajo. De todo ello se da cuenta en el presente informe de actividades. / e WWF Espagne a initié l'élaboration d'un inventaire des zones humides des Baléares en suivant la méthodologie du WWF Grèce qui a catalogué plus de 800 zones humides dans les îles grecques. En 2015, le WWF Grèce, avec le soutien de son gouvernement, a poussé à l'adoption d'une résolution sur " la conservation des zones humides dans les îles du bassin méditerranéen " lors de la COP12 de la Convention de Ramsar (Résolution XII.14) (Voir Annexe 1). Aujourd'hui, le WWF Espagne encourage l'application de cette résolution de la Convention de Ramsar en inventoriant les zones humides des îles Baléares, afin de les valoriser et de mettre l'information à la disposition de toutes les parties intéressées par le biais d'une base de données disponible sur un site web, en plus de parvenir à leur protection et à leur incorporation dans l'inventaire des zones humides du Plan hydrologique. À cette fin, entre 2016 et 2017, l'inventaire susmentionné des zones humides des Baléares a été réalisé, en suivant la méthodologie du WWF Grèce, trois ateliers participatifs ont été organisés avec les secteurs concernés des Baléares sur la conservation des zones humides des îles et une proposition de restauration d'une zone humide des Baléares a été élaborée. Des contacts et des réunions ont également eu lieu avec les autorités chargées de l'environnement et de l'eau des îles Baléares et des rapports ont été rédigés sur les effets sur les zones humides détectés lors des travaux de terrain de ce projet. Tout ceci est rapporté dans ce rapport d'activité.

L’évolution de l’occupation du sol au sein des sites Ramsar de France métropolitaine en 1975- 2005. Volet II : Pistes d’interprétation (2017)

Fri, 1 Dec 2017 15:16:52

En 2016, un premier rapport dans le cadre de l’Observatoire des Milieux humides/ ONB analysait les changements d’occupation du sol intervenus entre 1975 et 2005 au sein de 32 sites Ramsar de France métropolitaine, à partir de l’analyse d’images satellitaires. Divers changements étaient alors mis en avant et quantifiés, comme la perte en zones humides naturelles et la forte progression des zones humides artificielles. Ce 2e rapport complète le précédent, en proposant des pistes d’interprétation pour ces changements : quels sont les mécanismes, les causes profondes ? Il se base pour cela tant sur la bibliographie existante (notamment l’Enquête décennale à dires d’experts « Zones Humides»), que sur une enquête spécifique menée en 2016-17 auprès des gestionnaires de ces sites Ramsar

Cartographie des dynamiques spatio-temporelles de l'inondation à l'échelle de la Méditerranée (2017)

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 11:17:29

Les ressources en eau continentales relèvent d'une importance majeure pour l’Homme et pour la biodiversité. Elles assurent le bon fonctionnement des écosystèmes humides qui y sont associés et, par conséquent, le maintien d'une grande partie des services rendus par ces milieux. Cependant, le statut de ces habitats, ainsi que leur état de conservation, sont difficiles à estimer de manière homogène sur de grands territoires (tel que le bassin méditerranéen). De plus, les inventaires existants sont souvent, fragmentaires, très localisés ou réalisés à des échelles plus larges mais avec des degrés de précision relativement faibles. Ce stage s’inscrit dans le cadre d'un projet initié par l’Observatoire des Zones Humides Méditerranéennes (OZHM) visant à réaliser une cartographie exhaustive des surfaces inondées à l’aide des outils d'observation de la Terre, sur l'ensemble des bassins versant côtiers méditerranéens. Durant la première phase de ce projet (2015/2016), une méthode d’identification et d’extraction des milieux inondés ouverts (avec peu ou pas de végétation) avait été mise en place par l'OZHM. Celle-ci repose sur l’utilisation d’un indice calculé à partir des bandes spectrales optiques, le MNDWI (Modified Normalized Difference Water Index). Cela permet de classer les pixels d'une image en deux catégories : inondés ou secs. Dans un premier temps, ce stage a permis d'améliorer cette approche conceptuelle, en y apportant quelques modifications notamment avec l'élargissement de la période prise en compte pour l'analyse à 4 années (2013-2017) au lieu d'une seule. De plus, l'intégration systématique d'un masque "Urbain" a permis d'éliminer automatiquement toutes les zones imperméabilisées lors de l'analyse. Une linéarisation et une reclassification des pixels ont également été effectuées afin de limiter les discontinuités dans les délimitations des zones en eau libre entre les scènes juxtaposées. Toutes ces modifications, ainsi que les outils développés précédemment, ont été automatisés avec des scripts Python sous le logiciel ArcGIS. Pour finir, la nouvelle méthode a été appliquée pour traiter la partie orientale du bassin méditerranéen (Grèce, Macédoine, Bulgarie, Turquie, Chypre, Syrie, Liban, Palestine, Jordanie, Israël, Egypte et Lybie)./ Surface water is an indispensable resource for humans and biodiversity. It ensures the proper functioning of the associated wetland ecosystems and, consequently, the sustainability of their services. However, the conservation status of this type of habitat is difficult to estimate homogeneously on wide area (for example the Mediterranean basin). Moreover, existing inventories are often fragmented, very localized or realized on a large scale but with a low level of accuracy. This internship forms part of the Inundation project of the Observatory of Mediterranean wetlands which aims to realize a full inventory of Mediterranean water bodies with remote sensing on the entirety of Mediterranean watershed. In the first year of this project (2015/2016), a method to identify and extract the flooded areas (with little or no vegetation) was set up by the observatory. This method uses an index calculated with optical spectral bands named MNDWI (Modified Normalized Difference Water Index). It classifies pixels of one picture into two categories: flooded or dry. During this internship, the conceptual method was improved notably with the expansion of the period used for the analyses to four years (2013-2017) instead of one. Moreover, a mask was systematically integrated to allow automatic elimination of urban areas (with an impermeable surface). A linearization and a reclassification were also done to deal with the discontinuities relating to scene overlapping. All this modifications, and the tools previously developed, were automated with Python script on ArcGIS. To finish, the new method was applied to process the eastern Mediterranean watershed (Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Lybia).

Les services culturels récréatifs et éducatifs des zones humides en Méditerranée: Des services sous-estimés malgré les avantages qu'ils procurent - résultats d'études en Méditerranée. (2017)

Fri, 29 Sep 2017 15:17:41

Cette synthèse donne un aperçu des principaux résultats et analyses des études conduites en France et au Maghreb entre 2012 et 2014 sur les services culturels récréatifs et éducatifs que procurent les zones humides méditerranéennes. L'Observatoire des zones humides méditerranéennes (OZHM), géré par la Tour du Valat dans le cadre de l'initiative méditerranéenne de Ramsar (MedWet), en a coordonné le travail. En partenariat avec l'Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen de Montpellier (IAMM), la synthèse des neuf sites étudiés a été réalisée en 2015, ce qui a permis une première analyse régionale et sous-régionale.

Suivre les services récréatifs et éducatifs des zones humides méditerrannéennes

Fri, 13 Jan 2017 14:53:43

Évolution de l’occupation du sol dans les zones humides littorales du bassin méditerranéen de 1975 à 2005 / Trends in land cover change in coastal wetlands around the Mediterranean Basin: Survey findings from 1975 to 2005

Thu, 2 Feb 2017 09:52:18

Les zones humides méditerranéennes dans leur ensemble, écosystèmes de haute valeur pour la biodiversité, ont perdu environ 50 % de leur superficie au cours du xx e siècle. Par ailleurs, le littoral méditerranéen est soumis à de fortes pressions dues à l’urbanisation, au tourisme mais aussi au développement d ’infrastructures industrielles et de transport. Il y a donc dans les zones humides littorales méditerranéennes une convergence d’enjeux écologiques, sociaux et économiques. L’évolution de l’occupation du sol a été caractérisée dans 214 d’entre elles entre 1975 et 2005. En leur sein, la superficie des habitats humides naturels a diminué de 10 % en 30 ans, soit une perte de 1329 km². À l’inverse, les habitats humides d’origine anthropique ont augmenté de 105 %, c’est -à-dire un gain de 854 km². Pendant cette période, la principale pression directe sur les habitats humides naturels a été l’agriculture puisque 71 % des habitats humides perdus l’ont été au profit des milieux agricoles. L’urbanisation a eu un impact direct moindre mais elle a entrainé la conversion des terres agricoles périurbaines, qui se sont report ées vers les habitats naturels périphériques. Mots-clés : Méditerranée, zone humide littorale, SIG, télédétection, artificialisation, occupation du sol, pression agricole, pression urbaine / Overall, Mediterranean wetlands are very important ecosystems for biodiversity. Approximately half their area was lost during the 20 th century. The Mediterranean coast is also under heavy pressure due to urbanization, tourism and development of industrial and transport infrastructures. The Mediterranean coastal wetlands thus represent a convergence point of ecological, human and economic issues. Changes in land cover between 1975 and 2005 were characterized in 214 of them. The area of natural wetland habitats decreased by 10 % in 30 years, i.e. a loss of 1329 km². At the same time, artificial wetland habitats increased by 105 %, i.e. a gain of 854 km². The main direct pressure on natural wetland habitats was agriculture, with 71 % of them converted into agricultural areas. Urbanization had less direct impact but largely affected agricultural areas, which in turn were displaced onto natural habitats.

The role of waterbirds in the dispersal of aquatic alien and invasive species

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:15

Aim To review existing literature on the ability of waterbirds to spread aquatic alien and invasive species, and to assess the relevance of bird-mediated dispersal for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems. Location Global. Methods Literature Review. Results A systematic review of the literature revealed that quantitative studies investigating dispersal of alien organisms by waterbirds are rare (n = 14). Most studies citing waterbird dispersal rely on anecdotes or inferences from morphological dispersal syndromes. However, evidence from each stage of dispersal (i.e. emigration, transport and immigration) shows that waterbirds can carry alien plants and invertebrates internally and externally; transport them between water bodies at a variety of spatial scales; and deposit viable propagules in sites suited to aquatic invasive species. Main conclusions Our review suggests that waterbirds can and do act as important dispersal vectors for freshwater invasive species. Further experimental and field based research on the numbers and viability of moved alien propagules, and the roles of different species in the bird community, is needed. Furthermore, consideration of the spatially explicit manner in which birds move is imperative to understanding invasive spread. Populations of alien aquatic species in seemingly isolated wetlands can no longer be considered contained if they are able to be spread through waterbird-mediated dispersal, and containment measures must recognize such opportunities for further spread. Changing waterbird movement patterns, driven by climate and land use change, further add to the challenge of managing invasive species and offers an interesting opportunity for future research. The study of waterbird-mediated dispersal of aquatic alien invasive species provides insights not only into species invasions, but more generally into movement ecology, population ecology and biogeography.

Hindcasting Historical Breeding Conditions for an Endangered Salamander in Ephemeral Wetlands of the Southeastern USA: Implications of Climate Change

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:04:56

The hydroperiod of ephemeral wetlands is often the most important characteristic determining amphibian breeding success, especially for species with long development times. In mesic and wet pine flatwoods of the southeastern United States, ephemeral wetlands were a common landscape feature. Reticulated flatwoods salamanders ( Ambystoma bishopi ), a federally endangered species, depend exclusively on ephemeral wetlands and require at least 11 weeks to successfully metamorphose into terrestrial adults. We empirically modeled hydroperiod of 17 A . bishopi breeding wetlands by combining downscaled historical climate-model data with a recent 9-year record (2006–2014) of observed water levels. Empirical models were subsequently used to reconstruct wetland hydrologic conditions from 1896–2014 using the downscaled historical climate datasets. Reconstructed hydroperiods for the 17 wetlands were highly variable through time but were frequently unfavorable for A . bishopi reproduction (e.g., only 61% of years, using a conservative estimate of development time [12 weeks], were conducive to larval development and metamorphosis). Using change-point analysis, we identified significant shifts in average hydroperiod over the last century in all 17 wetlands. Mean hydroperiods were shorter in recent years than at any other point since 1896, and thus less suitable for A . bishopi reproduction. We suggest that climate change will continue to impact the reproductive success of flatwoods salamanders and other ephemeral wetland breeders by reducing the number of years these wetlands have suitable hydroperiods. Consequently, we emphasize the importance of conservation and management for mitigating other forms of habitat degradation, especially maintenance of high quality breeding sites where reproduction can occur during appropriate environmental conditions.

Linking azolla filiculoides invasion to increased winter temperatures in the doñana marshland (Sw spain)

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:04:42

© 2015 The Author(s). Unravelling how a multiplicity of global change factors might influence the expansion of alien plants is a major goal of invasion biology. We explored the association of climatic conditions (i.e. annual rainfall and average minimum temperature during the coldest months) and water quality (orthophosphate, nitrate concentrations and electrical conductivity), with blooms of the invasive fern Azolla filiculoides Lam. in the Doñana marshland (SW Spain), one of the most extensive wetlands in Europe. Azolla was first detected in Doñana in 2001. Its annual cover has been quantified since then through remote sensing. In the last decade there has been a considerable increase of orthophosphate and yearly fluctuations of nitrate. The first orthophosphate increase coincided with the presence of Azolla in Doñana. Since then, there has been a positive relationship between inter-annual variation in Azolla cover and minimum temperature during the coldest months. Our study shows that the Doñana marshland is facing rapid eutrophication and invasion by Azolla, most notably in years with high temperatures during the winter.

An Unstructured Numerical Model to Study Wind-Driven Circulation Patterns in a Managed Coastal Mediterranean Wetland: The Vaccarès Lagoon System

Tue, 3 May 2016 17:36:51

The spatiotemporal structure of wind-driven circulation patterns and associated water exchanges can drive important bio-hydrodynamic interactions in shallow lagoons. The Vaccarès lagoon system is a complex shallow hydrosystem located in the central part of the Rhône Delta (France). It is internationally recognized as part of a biosphere reserve within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme, and as a RAMSAR site. Due to its frequent occurrence in this area, and considering the shallowness of the Vaccarès lagoon system, wind is assumed to play a major role in the hydrodynamic and biological processes. In this study, a hydrodynamic model was developed to investigate the structure of wind-driven circulations in the Vaccarès lagoon system, to provide insights into their role in transport and water exchange processes. The implementation and assessment (calibration and validation) of the model is presented first. Simulations were then performed for two typical steady wind conditions and for one measured unsteady wind event. The results illustrate the influence of the complex geometry of the Vaccarès lagoon system on the wind-driven circulations, and the differences observed between the different sub-lagoons in this system. The differences in wind-induced water exchanges between these sub-lagoons are also discussed.

Phenological asynchrony in plant-butterfly interactions associated with climate: a community-wide perspective

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:35

Although much information has been accumulated on the effects of climate change on particular species worldwide, research aimed at assessing how such change influences biotic interactions from a community-wide perspective is still in its infancy. We contribute to filling in this gap by analyzing a 17-year (1996-2012) dataset that includes records of flower-visitation interactions between 12 butterfly species and 17 plant species in a coastal wetland area in northeastern Iberian Peninsula. We assessed the extent to which temporal asynchronies between plants and adult butterflies are influenced by different climatic variables that affect both plant and insect phenologies. Temperature and degree of aridity at various monthly summaries were used as predictors of the plant-butterfly phenological asynchrony. We identified the seasonal window with the greatest effect on asynchronies for two butterfly generations (spring and summer), and assessed whether the magnitude of asynchrony is associated with the level of butterfly specialization. We used generalized linear mixed models considering a total of 39 plant-butterfly interactions. Average asynchrony was higher in the spring generation and dry conditions during winter lead to decreased temporal overlap with flowers in this butterfly generation, whereas dry conditions in the spring lead to decreased temporal overlap in the summer butterfly generation. The magnitude of the effect was consistently small at the community level (all interactions pooled). Moreover, no clear climatic trend over the study time frame was detected. Finally, specialized and generalized butterflies in their resource use as adults were similarly vulnerable to asynchronies, in contrast to previous predictions of greater mutualistic disruptions in species with narrower niches. We conclude that a least in the Mediterranean region, phenological asynchronies might be more affected by aridity level than by temperature itself, and thus the former can be a key climatic trait to make better predictions in this region.

Impacts of climate change on the hydrology of two Natura 2000 sites in Northern Greece

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:34

Greece is included among the most vulnerable regions of Europe by climate change on account of higher temperature and reduced rainfall in areas already facing water scarcity. With respect to wetland systems, many ephemeral ones are expected to disappear and several permanent to shrink due to climate change. As regards two specific wetlands of Greece, the change in hydroperiod of Cheimaditida and Kerkini lakes due to climate change was studied. Lakes’ water balance was simulated using historical climate data and the emission scenarios Α1Β for the period 2020–2050 and Α1Β and Α2 for the period 2070–2100. Future climate scenarios, based on emission scenarios A1B and A2, were provided in the context of the study of Climate Change Impacts Study Committee. The surface area of Lake Cheimaditida will undergo a substantial decrease, initially by 20 % during the period 2020–2050 and later until 37 % during the period 2070–2100. In Lake Kerkini, the surface area will decrease, initially by 5 % during the period 2020–2050 and later until 14 % during the period 2070–2100. Climate change is anticipated to impact the hydroperiod of the two wetlands, and the sustainable water management is essential to prevent the wetland’s biodiversity loss.

Lessons from the construction of a climate change adaptation plan: A Broads wetland case study

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:33

The dynamic nature of environmental change in coastal areas means that a flexible “learning by doing” management strategy has a number of advantages. This article lays out the principles of such a strategy and then assesses an actual planning and management process focused on climate change consequences for the Broads wetland on the East coast of England. The management strategy focused on the concept of ecosystem services (stocks and flows) provided by the coastal wetland and the threats and opportunities posed to the area by sea level rise and other climate change impacts. The analysis explores the process by which an adaptive management plan has been formulated and coproduced by a combination of centralized (vertical) and stakeholder social network (horizontal) arrangements. The process values where feasible the ecosystem services under threat and prioritizes response actions. Coastal management needs a careful balance between strategic requirements imposed at a national scale and local schemes that affect regional and/or local communities and social networks. These networks aided by electronic media have allowed groups to engage more rapidly and effectively with policy proposals. However, successful deliberation is conditioned by a range of context specific factors, including the type of social networks present and their relative competitive and/or complementary characteristics. The history of consultation and dialogue between official agencies and stakeholders also plays a part in contemporary deliberation processes and the success of their outcomes. Among the issues highlighted are the multiple dimensions of nature's value; the difficulty of quantifying some ecosystem service changes, especially for cultural services; and the problem of “stakeholder fatigue” complicating engagement arrangements. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:719–725. © 2016 SETAC

Projected wetland densities under climate change: habitat loss but little geographic shift in conservation strategy

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:30

Climate change poses major challenges for conservation and management because it alters the area, quality, and spatial distribution of habitat for natural populations. To assess species’ vulnerability to climate change and target ongoing conservation investments, researchers and managers often consider the effects of projected changes in climate and land use on future habitat availability and quality and the uncertainty associated with these projections. Here, we draw on tools from hydrology and climate science to project the impact of climate change on the density of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of the USA, a critical area for breeding waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. We evaluate the potential for a trade-off in the value of conservation investments under current and future climatic conditions and consider the joint effects of climate and land use. We use an integrated set of hydrological and climatological projections that provide physically based measures of water balance under historical and projected future climatic conditions. In addition, we use historical projections derived from ten general circulation models (GCMs) as a baseline from which to assess climate change impacts, rather than historical climate data. This method isolates the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and ensures that modeling errors are incorporated into the baseline rather than attributed to climate change. Our work shows that, on average, densities of wetlands (here defined as wetland basins holding water) are projected to decline across the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region, but that GCMs differ in both the magnitude and the direction of projected impacts. However, we found little evidence for a shift in the locations expected to provide the highest wetland densities under current vs. projected climatic conditions. This result was robust to the inclusion of projected changes in land use under climate change. We suggest that targeting conservation towards wetland complexes containing both small and relatively large wetland basins, which is an ongoing conservation strategy, may also act to hedge against uncertainty in the effects of climate change.

Proline and glycine betaine accumulation in two succulent halophytes under natural and experimental conditions

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:04:39

Proline (Pro) and glycine betaine (GB) contents were determined in two Mediterranean halophytes, Plantago crassifolia and Inula crithmoides, to assess their possible role in salt tolerance of both taxa. Plant material was collected in a littoral salt marsh under different environmental conditions, and from plants subjected to salt treatments in a growth chamber. Relative growth inhibition by NaCl indicated that I. crithmoides is more salt-tolerant than P. crassifolia, in agreement with the distribution of the two species in nature. Field and laboratory data confirmed GB as the major osmolyte responsible for osmotic adjustment in I. crithmoides, but with only a minor role – if any – as “osmoprotectant” in the salt tolerance of P. crassifolia. Under natural conditions, Pro contents were very low in both taxa, but increased to levels high enough to contribute significantly to osmotic balance when plants were artificially treated with 450–600 mM NaCl – higher salt concentrations than those they would normally encounter in their natural habitats. These data suggest that halophytes possess built-in mechanisms, such as accumulation of additional osmolytes, to rapidly adapt to increasing salinity levels in their natural ecosystems; for example, those expected to be caused by climate change in salt marshes in the Mediterranean region.

Ecophysiological response of native and invasive Spartina species to extreme temperature events in Mediterranean marshes

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:16

The recent IPCC WG2 5th Assessment Report (IPCC 2014), notes an increase in the frequency and duration of extreme climatic events, especially for the Mediterranean region. Together with climate change, the invasion of natural communities by non-indigenous species (NIS) constitutes a serious threat to biodiversity. One of these NIS is the American Spartina patens, now present in Western European marshes. The present study aims to understand the biochemical and photochemical responses of S. patens compared with S. maritima under extreme temperature events. Under normal and extreme heat conditions, S. patens had a higher photosynthetic efficiency (α), compared with cold wave events, where the native S. maritima was far more efficient. This reduced photosynthetic efficiency was mostly due to a decrease in the connectivity between photosystem II (PSII) antennae. This was accompanied by severe damage to the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII. On the other hand, S. patens oxygen evolving complexes (OECs) seem to be temperature insensitive. The light absorption capacity was maintained due to a higher net rate of reaction centre (RC) closure as a counteractive measure of the reduced number of RC, especially in S. maritima. The loss of connectivity between PSII antennae and damage in OECs under heat stress leads to a severe reduction in the maximum yield for photochemistry enhanced by the low probability of each absorbed quanta to produce electronic work. However, while S. maritima presents high energy losses under heat stress, S. patens developed efficient quenching mechanisms under thermal stress, through auroxanthin. In S. patens, cold wave-treated individuals also displayed a very active line of enzymatic defences for reactive oxygen species scavenging. In fact, only cold treated individuals of this species presented higher activities of anti-oxidant enzymes, revealing some degree of adaptation to this new environment. In contrast, in S. maritima the exposure to extreme heat periods led, in most cases, to a decrease in the enzymatic defences, leaving the cell prone to oxidative damage. In summary, S. patens appears to have a higher fitness for the incoming climatic scenarios, being more tolerant to heat stress, while S. maritima will have its photobiological fitness decreased. This will impose a shift in the salt marsh biodiversity, favouring the non-indigenous S. patens expansion.

Halophytes as a source of salt tolerance genes and mechanisms: a case study for the Salt Lake area, Turkey

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:35

The worst case scenario of global climate change predicts both drought and salinity would be the first environmental factors restricting agriculture and natural ecosystems, causing decreased crop yields and plant growth that would directly affect human population in the next decades. Therefore, it is vital to understand the biology of plants that are already adapted to these extreme conditions. In this sense, extremophiles such as the halophytes offer valuable genetic information for understanding plant salinity tolerance and to improve the stress tolerance of crop plants. Turkey has ecological importance for its rich biodiversity with up to 3700 endemic plants. Salt Lake (Lake Tuz) in Central Anatolia, one of the largest hypersaline lakes in the world, is surrounded by salty marshes, with one of the most diverse floras in Turkey, where arid and semiarid areas have increased due to low rainfall and high evaporation during the summer season. Consequently, the Salt Lake region has a large number of halophytic, xerophytic and xero-halophytic plants. One good example is Eutrema parvulum (Schrenk) Al-Shehbaz & Warwick, which originates from the Salt Lake region, can tolerate up to 600 mM NaCl. In recent years, the full genome of E. parvulum was published and it has been accepted as a model halophyte due to its close relationship (sequence identity in range of 90%) with Arabidopsis thaliana (L. Heynh.). In this context, this review will focus on tolerance mechanisms involving hormone signalling, accumulation of compatible solutes, ion transporters, antioxidant defence systems, reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling mechanism of some lesser-known extremophiles growing in the Salt Lake region. In addition, current progress on studies conducted with E. parvulum will be evaluated to shed a light on future prospects for improved crop tolerance.

Another case of facultative paedomorphism in Smooth newts, Lissotriton vulgaris (Caudata: Salamandridae) from Turkey

Thu, 6 Oct 2016 17:25:33

A report of the occurrence of a dimorphic population of Smooth Newts in Lake Sazlı (Izmir, Western Anatolia, Turkey). During fieldwork on March 2015, 29 aquatic individuals (seven males, 22 females) were captured and of these individuals, five were paedomorphic (four males, one female). The metamorphic (83%) and paedomorphic (17%) ratio of the population is skewed to metamorphic. The mean snout-vent length (SVL) was 28.30 mm (range = 26.00−30.41), and total length (TL) was 57.66 mm (53.35−61.40) in paedomorphs. The average exterior gill length was 4.12 mm (2.64–4.71). The SVL was 39.99 mm (range = 33.44−39.93), and TL was 69.06 mm (66.19−79.17) in metamorphs. The possible reasons for the presence of facultative paedomorphosis in the population are discussed, with the dimorphic paedomorph hypothesis supported

Primary succession on re-created coastal wetland leads to successful restoration of coastal halophyte vegetation

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:13

Understanding the causes of patterns in plant distribution is especially important when we want to create new terrain for vegetation development for conservation purposes. In Škocjan Inlet Nature Reserve it was carefully planned for new mudflats and islets to be created along a microaltitudinal gradient, aiming to achieve the spontaneous development of at least three target habitat types (mudflats not covered by seawater at low tide, Mediterranean glasswort swards and Mediterranean saltmarsh scrubs, including the transitional forms between them) through the primary succession pathways. Thus, this study was actually projected as a field experiment, on the one hand, and as a practical conservation measure, to recover a degraded area, on another. Vegetation cover on the newly constructed mudflats changed by 92% over 6 years of succession. In general, un-vegetated mudflats decreased from 71% to 26%. In contrast to this, Mediterranean glasswort swards increased from 6.5% to 28.2%, whereas saltmarsh scrub had the longest positive trend, constantly gaining area from 2008 (0.6%) to 2012 (28.9%). Detailed mapping showed rather deterministic successional pathways, which make restoration plans for halophyte communities more predictable. The study shows that this “ecological experiment” might have concrete implications for the restoration or re-creation of halophyte plant communities along sedimentary seacoasts—in general, all priority habitats in the European Union. The approach of creating artificial terrain within coastal protected areas is especially important in the light of the climate change-driven rise in sea level, often in conjunction with the “coastal squeeze” phenomenon.

Can constructed wetlands treat wastewater for reuse in agriculture? Review of guidelines and examples in South Europe

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:10

South Europe is one of the areas negatively affected by climate change. Issues with water shortage are already visible, and are likely to increase. Since agriculture is the biggest freshwater consumer, it is important to find new water sources that could mitigate the climate change impact. In order to overcome problems and protect the environment, a better approach towards wastewater management is needed. That includes an increase in the volume of wastewater that is treated and a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable system where wastewater is actually considered as a resource. This study evaluates the potential of constructed wetlands (CWs) to treat domestic wastewater and produce effluent that will be suitable for reuse in agriculture. In South Europe, four countries (Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain) have national standards that regulate wastewater reuse in agriculture. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) that are based on CWs in these four countries were analysed and their effluents compared with the quality needed for reuse. In general, it was found that CWs have trouble reaching the strictest standards, especially regarding microbiological parameters. However, their effluents are found to be suitable for reuse in areas that do not require water of the highest quality.

Differences in the Vulnerability of Waterbird Species to Botulism Outbreaks in Mediterranean Wetlands: an Assessment of Ecological and Physiological Factors

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:06

Avian botulism kills thousands of waterbirds every year, including endangered species, but information about the differences between species in vulnerability to botulism outbreaks and the capacity to act as carriers of Clostridium botulinum is still poorly known. Here, we estimated the vulnerability to botulism of 11 waterbird species from Mediterranean wetlands by comparing the number of affected birds with the census of individuals at risk. The capacity of different species to act as carriers was studied by detecting the presence of the C. botulinum type C/D botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) gene in fecal samples and prey items of waterbirds in the wild and by the serial sampling of cloacal swabs of birds affected by botulism. We found differences among species in their vulnerabilities to botulism, probably related to feeding habits, season of arrival, turnover, and, possibly, phylogenetic resilience. The globally endangered white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) showed mortality rates in the studied outbreaks of 7% and 17% of the maximum census, which highlights botulism as a risk factor for the conservation of the species. Invasive water snails, such as Physa acuta, may be important drivers in botulism epidemiology, because 30% of samples tested positive for the BoNT gene during outbreaks. Finally, our results show that birds may excrete the pathogen for up to 7 days, and some individuals can do it for longer periods. Rails and ducks excreted C. botulinum more often and for longer times than gulls, which could be related to their digestive physiology (i.e., cecum development). IMPORTANCE Botulism is an important cause of mortality in waterbirds, including some endangered species. The global climate change may have consequences in the ecology of wetlands that favor the occurrence of botulism outbreaks. Here, we offer some information to understand the ecology of this disease that can be useful to cope with these global changes in the future. We have found that some species (i.e., coots and dabbling ducks) are more vulnerable to botulism and have a more relevant role in the onset and amplification of the outbreaks than other species (i.e., flamingos and grebes). Feeding habits can explain these differences in part; in addition to the well-known role of necrophagous fly maggots, we found here that water snails are frequent carriers of Clostridium botulinum. This is relevant, because these water snails can thrive in eutrophic and polluted wetlands, exacerbating other changes driven by climate change in wetlands.

Les zones humides au service du développement durable dans la région méditerranéenne- Cadre d'action 2016-2030 (Février 2016)

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 14:46:52

The Mediterranean Region under Climate Change (2016)

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 17:07:42

This book has been published to coincide with the 22nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) in Marrakesh. It is the outcome of work by academic researchers on both sides of the Mediterranean and provides a scientific review of the mechanisms of climate change and its impacts on the environment, the economy, health and Mediterranean societies. It will also be valuable in developing responses that draw on “scientific evidence” to address the issues of adaptation, resource conservation, solutions and risk prevention. Reflecting the full complexity of the Mediterranean environment, the book is a major scientific contribution to the climate issue, where various scientific considerations converge to break down the boundaries between disciplines.

Beyond just sea-level rise: considering macroclimatic drivers within coastal wetland vulnerability assessments to climate change

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:05:34

Due to their position at the land-sea interface, coastal wetlands are vulnerable to many aspects of climate change. However, climate change vulnerability assessments for coastal wetlands generally focus solely on sea-level rise without considering the effects of other facets of climate change. Across the globe and in all ecosystems, macroclimatic drivers (e.g., temperature and rainfall regimes) greatly influence ecosystem structure and function. Macroclimatic drivers have been the focus of climate change-related threat evaluations for terrestrial ecosystems, but largely ignored for coastal wetlands. In some coastal wetlands, changing macroclimatic conditions are expected to result in foundation plant species replacement, which would affect the supply of certain ecosystem goods and services and could affect ecosystem resilience. As examples, we highlight several ecological transition zones where small changes in macroclimatic conditions would result in comparatively large changes in coastal wetland ecosystem structure and function. Our intent in this communication is not to minimize the importance of sea-level rise. Rather, our overarching aim is to illustrate the need to also consider macroclimatic drivers within vulnerability assessments for coastal wetlands.

The impact of human pressure on landscape patterns and plant species richness in Mediterranean coastal dunes

Wed, 9 Nov 2016 14:04:47

We analyze the spatial patterns of natural dune cover patches and their plant richness, comparing coastal sites with different levels of human pressure in central Italy. We created a detailed land cover map of dune sites. The spatial pattern of natural dune cover types was characterized by computing a set of patch-based metrics. To quantify patch plant richness, we used 16 m2 vegetation plots, randomly distributed on coastal dune cover types. For each patch, the richness of the entire pool of species and of three guilds (i.e., typical dune, ruderal, and alien species) was considered. We compared different levels of human pressure on coastal dunes focusing on pattern metrics and floristic information by using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. In sites with high human pressure, we have observed a general simplification in the natural dune spatial pattern and a decline of plant richness but with a specific response for each cover type. Alien and ruderal species presented low richness in all patches. In coastal dunes, the harsh ecological conditions and the strong sea–inland gradient shape the distribution of human activities and control the number of ruderal species. The approach effectively describes fragmentation and biodiversity in dune ecosystems.

Quelle occupation du sol au sein des sites Ramsar de France métropolitaine ? Rétrospective 1975- 2005 (2016)

Wed, 5 Oct 2016 16:03:24

Dans le cadre de l’Observatoire National des milieux humides, la Tour du Valat (Observatoire des zones humides méditerranéennes) avec l’aide de l’Association Ramsar-France, a étudié l’évolution de l’occupation du sol dans 32 de ces sites métropolitains (désignés avant 2015) entre 1975, 1990 et 2005, à partir d’images satellites. Utilisant la méthodologie du projet GlobWetland-II (mené en partenariat avec l’Agence Spatiale Européenne, Jena Optronik et le Secrétariat Ramsar), elle a permis d’analyser l’évolution des grandes classes d’habitats, en particulier des milieux humides (naturels et artificiels) ; d’analyser le niveau de pression agricole et urbain sur les sites Ramsar métropolitains de France ; et d’établir des cartes d’occupation du sol simplifiée des 32 sites. Optimisée pour une échelle globale, la méthode permet de mettre en évidence des tendances à l’échelle de l’ensemble des sites. Il s’agit du premier essai de déclinaison nationale d’une démarche de suivi à partir d‘images satellitaires, appliquée en 2009-14 à l’échelle du bassin méditerranéen. Principaux résultats : - Globalement, en 30 ans, les milieux humides naturels ont régressé de 6%, et les milieux humides artificiels progressé de 38% dans les sites Ramsar métropolitains. Les milieux naturels terrestres ont aussi régressé. Ces changements sous-estiment probablement ceux ayant affecté les zones humides de France en général, souvent mois bien protégées/valorisées que les sites Ramsar. - Marais & lagunes, forêts inondables et prairies humides sont les milieux humides qui ont le plus régressé entre 1975 et 2005. - A l’inverse, lacs et étangs artificiels ont fortement progressé. - Les milieux urbanisés ont fortement progressé entre 1975 et 2005 (+ 39%), tant dans les sites Ramsar métropolitains que dans leurs proches alentours. - En revanche l’agriculture a stagné : +2% à +4 % dans les sites, -2% à -3% dans les alentours. - Le littoral méditerranéen apparaît comme le plus concerné par la progression tant de l’agriculture que des milieux urbains.

Suivi post-travaux de la macrofaune benthique et évaluation de l’état écologique des lagunes du site des étangs et marais des salins de Camargue (2016)

Wed, 5 Oct 2016 15:16:01

This master thesis contributes to ongoing research conducted by the Tour du Valat in the former salt pans of the « Etangs et marais des salins de Camargue ». Important hydrological work was undertaken in 2014 and 2015 in order to improve the renaturalisation of these abandoned salt lagoons. The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential impacts of this work on the lagoons’ ecological state and monitor the evolution over time.Field work collecting biotic (i.e. benthic invertebrates) and physicochemical samples was carried out from April to early June 2016. Our results revealed that most of the lagoons targeted by the new hydrological connections showed modifications in structure and composition of their invertebrate communities. The M-AMBI index indicated an improvement of the ecological state of the lagoons with reduced confinement. In some lagoons, we highlighted an imbalance in communities that can be related to considerable variability in climatic conditions or to persistent hydraulic disturbances. However, long-term monitoring of biotic and abiotic variables is required in order to determine the influence of climatic versus restoration processes. / Les travaux faisant l’objet de ce mémoire s’inscrivent dans la continuité des études engagées antérieurement par la Tour du Valat sur les anciens salins du site des Etangs et marais des salins de Camargue. Afin de favoriser la renaturation de ces anciennes lagunes salicoles, des travaux de reconnexions hydrauliques ont été entrepris en 2014 et 2015. L’objectif de la présente étude est d’étudier les trajectoires d’évolution des milieux lagunaires et d’évaluer les éventuels effets des travaux sur l’état écologique des lagunes. Des prélèvements biotiques (invertébrés benthiques) et physico-chimiques ont été effectués d’avril à début juin. Nos résultats ont mis en évidence que la plupart des lagunes ciblées par les travaux hydrauliques montrent une évolution de la structure et de la composition de leurs communautés d’invertébrés. L’indice M-AMBI a révélé une amélioration de l’état écologique des lagunes visées par un objectif de déconfinement. Pour certains plans d’eau, l’étude a aussi révélé un déséquilibre dans les peuplements, attribué à la variabilité importante des conditions climatiques ou à des perturbations hydrauliques persistantes. Cependant, il s’impose un suivi à long terme des variables biotiques et abiotiques afin d’appréhender la part du phénomène liée au climat et celle résultant du processus de restauration.

Caractérisation de la vulnérabilité des zones humides de Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur au changement climatique : le cas des zones humides alluviales. (2016)

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 17:22:15

Fifty percents of wetlands have disappeared or have been altered for agricultural uses. Climate change makes this habitat type one of the most vulnerable of the world. With the objective to characterize wetlands vulnerability to climate changes, with a particular attention to Mediterranean wetlands, the Agence de l’Eau and the Région PACA have launch the Regional Action Plan on Climate Change and water resources (PRACC). The methodology used to characterize this vulnerability is based on physical and hydrological criteria (lithology, distance to the river, relation between seepage and water flow) and also with biological criteria (species richness, presence of threatened species, species’ sensibility to climate change). Those criteria have been translated in indicators allowing comparisons between wetlands and a hierarchical treatment of those habitats. This methodology and the resulting preliminary results obtained from amphibian’s data and for the alluvial wetlands only, will be extended to the overall PACA wetland network, and with other flora and fauna taxa. / Alors que plus de 50 % des zones humides en France ont disparu ou ont été utilisées dans un but agricole, le contexte du changement climatique fait de ces milieux un des habitats les plus vulnérables au monde. Afin de caractériser la vulnérabilité des zones humides aux changements climatiques, avec une attention particulière portée sur les zones humides méditerranéennes, l’Agence de l’Eau et la Région PACA ont mis en place le PRACC. La méthodologie adoptée pour caractériser cette vulnérabilité se base alors sur des critères physiques, hydrologiques (relation débit-nappe, distance au cours d’eau, lithologie) et biologiques (richesse spécifique, présence d’espèces menacées, sensibilité des espèces au changement climatique). Ces critères sont alors traduits en indices permettant une quantification et la comparaison de la vulnérabilité des zones. Le cadrage méthodologique et les résultats préliminaires présentés à partir du cortège d’amphibiens sur les zones humides alluviales, est voué à s’appliquer sur l’ensemble des zones humides actuellement recensé en PACA, et s’appliquera dans la suite de l’étude à d’autres cortèges floro-faunistiques.

Proposition d'un indicateur écosystémique culturel : mesurer l'impact des visites récréatives des zones humides méditerranéennes sur le bien être humain (2016)

Wed, 28 Sep 2016 15:27:32

Les visites récréatives aux zones humides méditerranéennes protégées et aménagées sont des services écosystèmiques culturels par lesquelles ces sites offrent une large palette d'avantages basés sur la nature. Ces avantages peuvent avoir des impacts sur le capital humain et le capital social des visiteurs et donc sur leur bien être à travers l'augmentation de leurs capabilités. Vu la nature des zones humides et la diversité des catégories des visiteurs, les aménagements, les infrastructures et les stratégies d'ouverture au grand public jouent un rôle important à rendre les zones humides plus attractives et plus accessibles à toutes les catégories de la société. Les efforts des gestionnaires des sites sont donc indispensables. Les rôles récréatif et éducatif des zones humides et leur impact sur l'augmentation des " capabilités" des individus, une fois démontrés, constituent des arguments supplémentaires pour la protection de la zone humide au niveau de la méditerranée. Ce travail propose un indicateur écosystémique qui permet de mesurer et d'évaluer l'impact des visites récréatives sur le bien être des visiteurs des zones humides méditerranéennes en se basant sur l'approche des capitaux multiples./ Protected Mediterranean wetlands offer a large wide of advantages through recreational visits. Naturebased advantages impacts visitors' wellbeing and capabilities. Infrastructures, equipments and management strategies play a key role to make wetlands more attractive and accessible to different categories of visitors. Managers' strategies and efforts are essential. Recreational and educational roles of the wetlands and their impact on individuals' capabilities, once demonstrated, are an additional argument for their protection and conservation. This work proposes a cultural ecosystem indicator based on capitals approach which allows to measure and estimate the impact of the recreational visits on the Mediterranean wetlands visitors' wellbeing.

Tracking global change in ecosystem area:The Wetland Extent Trends index

Thu, 21 Apr 2016 17:51:47

We present a method for estimating broad trends in ecosystem area based on incomplete and heterogeneous data, developing a proof-of-concept for the first indicator of change in area of natural wetland, the Wetland Extent Trends (WET) index. We use a variation of the Living Planet Index method, which is used for measuring global trends in wild vertebrate species abundance. The analysis is based on a database containing 1100 wetland extent time-series records and the method identifies and addresses ecological and biogeographic biases in the dataset. Globally, the natural WET index, excluding human-made wetlands, declined by about 30% on average between 1970 and 2008. Declines varied between regions from about 50% in Europe to about 17% in Oceania over the same period. The WET index fills an important gap in the ecosystem coverage of global biodiversity indicators and can track changes related to a number of current international policy objectives. The same method could be applied to other datasets to create indicators for other ecosystems with incomplete global data.