Benthic response to Mediterranean acidification
The MedSeA project will define the susceptibility and resilience of key-stone species and endemic ecosystems to Mediterranean acidification and warming in WP3 and WP4. Analysis of our experimental results will allow projections of changes to the services that these ecosystems and species provide. Some services such as nurseries for fisheries, coastal protection, tourism, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation are likely to be very sensitive to climate change. To constrain projections, our consortium will take an interdisciplinary approach looking at physiological responses as well as ecological responses to environmental change.
Specific objectives:
- Investigate the impacts of climate change on four key Mediterranean habitats and predict future responses of these unique habitats on projected CO2 emission and stabilization scenarios. The ecosystems to be examined are: Coralline algae seabeds, Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, Vermetid reefs and Coralligene community.
- Examine the response of commercially important species (coral, mussels) to the projected conditions and link with WP5 to assess opportunities for respective industries.
- Provide information to policy makers on how society can mitigate and adapt to best manage these ecosystems in order to reduce damage and increase socioeconomic benefits from these systems.
