Ecological study of benthic communities in the continental shelf and upper slope in the Menorca Channel (North Western Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

[EN] Technological development and increased availability of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and manned submersibles have significantly increased accessibility to deep environments revealing the presence of rich and diverse macrobenthic assemblages dominated by suspension feeders. These assemblages have been largely exposed to the impacts of fishing activities (especially bottom trawling) in the Mediterranean Sea. Consequently, it is currently urgent to increase knowledge on their distribution, as well as on the ecology and biology of the main species that constitute these macrobenthic assemblages in order to implement effective management and conservation measures. This thesis addressed the characterization of macrobenthic assemblages in the continental shelf and upper slope (40–360 m depth) of the Menorca Channel through a multidisciplinary approach at different ecological levels. [...]

[CAT] Les millores tecnològiques i la major disponibilitat de vehicles operats remotament (ROVs) i sub marins tripulats han incrementat l’accessibilitat a entorns profunds, revelant la presència associacions d’organismes bentòniques riques i diverses, dominades per suspensívors. Aquestes agregacions han estat altament impactades per la pesca (en especial el ròssec) al Mediterrani. És urgent incrementar el coneixement, sobre la distribució d’aquestes associacions i aspectes claus de la biologia i ecologia de les principals espècies que les constitueixen per tal d’establir mesures de conservació efectives. En aquesta tesi es caracteritzen les associacions bentòniques de la plataforma i talús continentals del Canal de Menorca a través d’una aproximació multidisciplinària a diferents nivells ecològics. [...]