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STATE of BIODIVERSITY in the MEDITERRANEAN (2-3 P

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STATE of BIODIVERSITY in the MEDITERRANEAN (2-3 P UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.231/18 17 April 2003 ENGLISH MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN Meeting of the MED POL National Coordinators Sangemini, Italy, 27 - 30 May 2003 STRATEGIC ACTION PROGRAMME GUIDELINES DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL STATUS AND STRESS REDUCTION INDICATORS FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION In cooperation with UNEP Athens, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1 2. AIMS OF THE REPORT .............................................................................................. 2 3. STATE OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN............................................. 2 Species Diversity................................................................................................................. 2 Ecosystems/Communities .................................................................................................. 3 Pelagic ............................................................................................................................... 3 Benthic ............................................................................................................................... 4 4. ECOSYSTEM CHANGES DUE TO ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT............................... 6 Microbial contamination...................................................................................................... 6 Industrial pollution .............................................................................................................. 6 Oil pollution ........................................................................................................................ 7 Fishing and mariculture ...................................................................................................... 7 Biological invasions ............................................................................................................7 5. CURRENT FRAMEWORKS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS ........................................................................................................................ 7 Selecting final indicators and their reference points............................................................ 9 6. PROGRESS IN DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL QUALITY BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS FOR MARINE AND COASTAL WATERS .................................................... 10 7. INDICATORS BASED ON THE BIOLOGICAL ELEMENT: FROM GENE TO ECOSYSTEM ...................................................................................................................... 13 At the gene level ................................................................................................................ 14 At the organismic level ..................................................................................................... 15 1. Proteins and Enzymes.................................................................................................. 15 2. Other Potential Protein And Enzyme Biomarkers.................................................... 17 3. Immunological Biomarkers...................................................................................... 18 4. Histological Markers ..................................................................................................... 19 At the population level ...................................................................................................... 20 At the community level ..................................................................................................... 21 At the habitat level............................................................................................................. 24 List of indicators................................................................................................................ 25 8. DESCRIPTION OF SUGGESTED INDICATORS ...................................................... 26 Populations of key species including protected ones.................................................... 26 Legislation concerning rare, endangered or threatened marine species...................... 27 Number of benthic species ............................................................................................... 27 Number of exotic species ................................................................................................. 31 Occurrence of nuisance species (HABS)......................................................................... 32 Dominance index............................................................................................................... 32 Presence and abundance of marine macro-phytobenthos (macrophytes) ................... 33 Presence of sensitive zoobenthic species/taxa .............................................................. 35 Abundance of opportunistic benthic species /taxa......................................................... 36 Community diversity (H) ................................................................................................... 37 Biotic index(BC)................................................................................................................. 39 Pielou’s index of Evenness............................................................................................... 41 Comparison of dominance curves ................................................................................... 41 Log-normal distribution .................................................................................................... 42 Geometric abundance/size classes distribution ............................................................. 42 The ratio between r- and K- selected species.................................................................. 42 Infaunal trophic index(ITI) ................................................................................................. 43 Changes in the distribution area of habitat types ........................................................... 44 9. INDICATORS ACCORDING TO HUMAN ACTIVITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN .... 45 Dumping............................................................................................................................. 45 Industrial wastes ...............................................................................................................47 Oil spills and PAHs............................................................................................................ 49 Shipping: Anti-fouling substances (organotins: TBT) .................................................... 50 Fisheries............................................................................................................................. 51 Mariculture ......................................................................................................................... 52 Biological invasions: via shipping, with mariculture ...................................................... 53 10. ASSESSING ECOLOGICAL QUALITY THROUGH BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN ..................................................................................................... 54 Human resources .............................................................................................................. 54 Organismic level: biomarkers used in the Mediterranean Sea....................................... 55 Community level: Case Studies........................................................................................ 57 Community Diversity Shannon-Wiener (H) ....................................................................... 57 Case study : oil spill accident............................................................................................ 58 Case study: dumping........................................................................................................ 58 Case study: number of molluscan exotics......................................................................... 59 11. CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................ 59 12. THE WAY FORWARD............................................................................................... 60 13. DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................ 61 14. ACRONYMS AND WEB SITES................................................................................. 61 15. REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 62 UNEP(DEC)/MED WG.231/18 page 1 1. INTRODUCTION The importance of indicators for decision making was recognised at the Rio Conference and chapter 40 of Agenda 21 refers to the development of Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI). The indicator activities have often offset in activities in relation to environmental indicators or indicators for sector integration. At the European level the use of indicators is today recognised as one of the most effective techniques for the applied ecological research of the surface and coastal Waters (Ecological Water Quality Directive 2000/60/EC). This Directive is establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy the so called Water Framework Directive (WFD). The Community and member countries are party to various international agreements containing important obligations on the protection of marine waters from pollution. The European Environmental Agency
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