Review on the conservation status of autochthonous marine angiosperms in the Mediterranean Sea Alumno: Alice Carrara Tutor: Jorge Juan Vicedo Curso académico: 2019/2020 Alice Carrara Alice Carrara TABLE OF CONTENTS List of figures .................................................................................................................... IV List of tables ...................................................................................................................... VI Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 1 Resumen ............................................................................................................................ 2 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 3 1.1 Seagrasses ............................................................................................................................. 3 1.1.1 Biology and diversity of seagrasses ....................................................................................................... 3 1.1.2 Global distribution ................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1.3 Main threats .......................................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Plant conservation strategies ............................................................................................... 10 1.2.1 In situ conservation ............................................................................................................................. 12 1.2.2 Ex situ conservation ............................................................................................................................. 13 1.3 Previous works .................................................................................................................... 14 2. AIMS OF THE STUDY ..................................................................................................... 16 3. MATERIAL AND METHODS ............................................................................................ 17 3.1 Research strategy ................................................................................................................ 17 3.1.1 Databases ............................................................................................................................................ 17 3.1.2 Criteria of inclusion for the data analysis ............................................................................................ 18 3.1.3. Criteria of exclusion for the data analysis .......................................................................................... 19 3.1.4 Search equations ................................................................................................................................. 19 3.2 Representation of results ..................................................................................................... 22 4. RESULTS AN DISCUSSION .............................................................................................. 23 4.1 Bibliometric results .............................................................................................................. 23 4.2 Analytical results ................................................................................................................. 31 4. 2. 1 Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Asch. ....................................................................................................... 31 I Alice Carrara 4.2.1.1 Taxonomy ......................................................................................................................................... 31 4.2.1.2 Distribution range ............................................................................................................................. 32 4.2.1.3 Population dynamics ........................................................................................................................ 33 4.2.1.4 Habitat and ecology .......................................................................................................................... 34 4.2.1.5 Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 35 4.2.1.6 Conservation strategies .................................................................................................................... 37 4. 2. 2 Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile ............................................................................................................ 43 4.2.2.1 Taxonomy ......................................................................................................................................... 43 4.2.2.2 Distribution range ............................................................................................................................. 43 4.2.2.3 Population dynamics ........................................................................................................................ 45 4.2.2.4 Habitat and ecology .......................................................................................................................... 46 4.2.2.5 Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 47 4.2.2.6 Conservation strategies .................................................................................................................... 48 4. 2. 3 Zostera marina L. ............................................................................................................................... 57 4.2.3.1 Taxonomy ......................................................................................................................................... 57 4.2.3.2 Distribution range ............................................................................................................................. 58 4.3.2.3 Population dynamics ........................................................................................................................ 59 4.3.2.4 Habitat and ecology .......................................................................................................................... 59 4.3.2.5 Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 60 4.2.3.6 Conservation strategies .................................................................................................................... 61 4.2.4 Zostera noltii Hornem .......................................................................................................................... 68 4.2.4.1 Taxonomy ......................................................................................................................................... 68 4.2.4.2 Distribution range ............................................................................................................................. 68 4.2.4.3 Population dynamics ........................................................................................................................ 69 4.2.4.4 Habitat and ecology .......................................................................................................................... 70 4.2.4.5 Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 71 4.2.4.6 Conservation strategies .................................................................................................................... 72 4. 2. 5 Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande ..................................................................................................... 77 4.2.5.1 Taxonomy ......................................................................................................................................... 77 4.2.5.2 Distribution range ............................................................................................................................. 78 4.2.5.3 Population dynamics ........................................................................................................................ 79 4.2.5.4 Habitat and ecology .......................................................................................................................... 79 4.2.5.5 Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 80 4.2.5.6 Conservation strategies .................................................................................................................... 81 4. 2. 6 Ruppia maritima L. ............................................................................................................................ 85 II Alice Carrara 4.2.6.1 Taxonomy ......................................................................................................................................... 85 4.2.6.2 Distribution range ............................................................................................................................. 87 4.2.6.3 Population dynamics .......................................................................................................................