This is how underwater deserts progress in the Mediterranean

Underwater deserts represent just one of the world’s many lights. alarm these are opening. The climate crisis is advancing rapidly ‘sea watchers’‘ They confirm this at every inspection. In total, this entity already has 5,489 volunteers (six years ago they couldn’t reach 1,500) 22,000 data registered and later approved scientists.

“Science cannot stay in research centers”. “We need powerful tools and we need citizen science,” says Marc Garrabou, coordinator of the ‘Sea Watchers’ project. Scientists, amateur divers, fishermen and marine enthusiasts provide data that will serve to improve the protection of the entire Spanish coast.

Combining science with participation is crucial, according to Ignacio Torres, deputy director of the Biodiversity Foundation at the Ministry of Ecological Transition: “It’s easier sensitize people We can talk about the issues and also create a dialogue between various sectors. From fishing to tourism.” Some of the evidence collected is indeed worrying.

1.Rabbits and deserts

Thousands of underwater forests are dying. Invasive species due to unusually high temperatures herbivores They colonize hitherto unknown, colder regions. good example Siganus luridus or Siganus rivulatus (rabbit fish, they call them). Why rabbitfish? Because these species not only replace native species, but also consume algae at full speed and They turn the rocks white. overfishing It doesn’t help either, as it minimizes some predators (bream, sea bream) that regulate the populations of native herbivores. salps (they are like the cows of the sea) and eyelashThey also eat algae. “When someone warns us underwater desert“We went there and analyzed it,” CSIC researcher Jordi Boada elaborates. These are ecosystems that have lost their functionality and biodiversity.

2. Unusual bloom

Posidonia meadows They usually reproduce non-sexually. However, high temperaturesobserved in autumn major bloom periods. CEAB-CSIC technician Maria García states that this phenomenon consists of: extra effort from the facility: “We do not yet know what consequences this waste of energy will have, but it is possible” many fruits disappeared and that recolonization through non-sexual reproduction is not as successful due to the stress experienced.” These grasslands form protected ecosystems. It is still unknown how sudden temperature drops such as the ones we experience today will affect them.

3. Tropicalization

Ocean warming is tropicalizing Mediterranean waters. ‘Marine observers’ confirmed this rare sights These are becoming normal. An example: green fish. Previously, it was difficult to find a place in the Gulf of Leon in the north of Catalonia because it preferred warmer waters. But now he feels comfortable in this area.

“ communities are being reorganized. “Warmwater fish move north, coldwater fish move deeper,” he says. Boada. Greenfish are native to the Mediterranean, as is the loggerhead turtle, which now nests readily in eastern Spain. But invasive species are also appearing in the Suez Canal. parrot fishseen before balearic waters.

4. Mortality rate

volunteers 475 assets Participants in the project also report when they detect mass deaths. This also happens with Red Gorgonians. In the last census Complication rate was observed in 90% Sponges are another organism damaged by high temperatures, and populations of this coral heat wave under the sea.

“It’s very important to document everything,” he says. garrabu. Marc RiusThe CEAB director emphasizes that the ‘Sea Watchers’ program is one of the most important programs because it combines the protection of biodiversity with awareness-raising.

5.How to collaborate

To participate, simply go to the ‘Sea Observers’ website and register. Any observation must be entered with a photo and georeferencescientists will confirm and add data warehouseare analyzed to achieve the goals of different projects. Some focus solely on invasive algae, some focus on jellyfish, some focus on underwater deserts… All in all. 17 lines of research The place where studies are carried out thanks to the observations of volunteers. NOr do you need to be an expert? Program leaders also emphasize that they do not know how to identify all species to become marine observers.