Long-term monitoring program of Catalan Natural Parks (NW Mediterranean)

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a fundamental tool to face the increasing impacts on coastal ecosystems around the world. In the Mediterranean Sea, MPAs are a natural heritage and is keyto preserve the biodiversity along the coast(Linares et al., 2012).Long-term monitoring programs, combined with experimental studies, allow us to design efficient tools for the management of these areas, such as the regulation of human usages and the design of restoration actions (Hereu and Quintana, 2012). In this study, we evaluate the conservation status of marine communities in relation toprotection regimes of two Natural Parks, located in the northern coast of Catalonia: Cap de Creus Natural Park and Montgrí, Illes Medes and Baix Ter Natural Park.To do so, we monitored several ecological and economically relevant species and habitats. The species and habitats evaluated are the emblematic red coral (Corallium rubrum), gorgonians, bryozoans, sea urchins, fish vulnerable species, algal communities and dark caves habitats, among others. Each of the mare used to evaluate ecological responses to a wide range of impacts, such as over fishing, climate change or the impact of diving in benthic species. We found high diversity of responses to different stressors due to their biological attributes, such as life strategies, population dynamics, life-history cycles and behaviors. This study highlights the relevance of well-designed long-term monitoring to better understand the natural variability of the species and provides useful insights into the management and conservation of the ecosystems