NVENTORY AND MONITORING OF MARINE, LAGOON AND INTRODUCED SPECIES IN THE GULF OF GABES
Client : National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies
Date : 2011 - 2012
Financement : Wordl Bank
The Mediterranean, as an inland sea, is subject to anthropogenic pressure and maritime traffic such that it has been classified as a highly vulnerable area. The introduction of alien species is a major threat, considered the most serious threat to biological diversity, after the destruction of ecosystems. Indeed, this can lead to the disappearance of a good number of native species and cause major upheavals in the general structure and functioning of marine ecosystems.
To complete and enrich the knowledge of this important Mediterranean area, the main objectives of the project aim to lead to the implementation of tools for monitoring the status of heritage species, making it possible to judge the effects of the protection and management strategies adopted. It is :
- draw up an up-to-date inventory of the biodiversity of species, habitats and fishery resources, targeting, mainly, species of heritage value and introduced species;
- locate the habitats to be protected, characterize them and define their conservation status (bio-indicator species); and
- draw up the current list of exotic species and the impact of these species on the native flora and fauna and on biodiversity in general.