The Mediterranean Sea is the one that warms the most and is “tropicalizing”

The latest report from World Wild Fun (WWF), published on the occasion of World Oceans Day, is alarming: The Mediterranean Sea is the fastest warming in the world. Specific, raises your temperature 20% faster than the world average.

This warming is endangering the Mediterranean, according to the WWF report, which looks at six examples of the ecological impacts of this overheated sea.

The ‘tropicalization’ of the Mediterranean, the loss of biodiversity or the degradation of marine habitats are some of the impacts.

6 effects of overheating of the Mediterranean Sea

Although the Mediterranean is not yet a tropical ocean, it is on its way to becoming one. The process has already begun in the warmest part of the basin, the eastern part, and predictably, as the sea temperature rises, the tropicalization of the Mediterranean will also reach the western part.

The effects on the Mediterranean Sea of ​​this tropicalization, according to the WWF, are already notable. These are the 6 impacts that the organization has analyzed.

1. Our fish are being invaded

The Mediterranean Sea is the most invaded in the world. The WWF report warns that in recent decades there has been an explosion of invasive species highly destructive exotics that are devastating native ecosystems.

Most of these invaders (it is estimated that around 1,000 new species already exist) come from the Red Sea or the Indian Ocean and they reach the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, so the number of invaders will probably increase after the recent expansion of the Canal. The species that are doing the most damage are rabbit fish and lion fish.

Lionfish and rabbitfish account for 80% of the catches in Turkey or Cyprus and have transformed a large part of the marine habitats.

2. Native seaweed disappears

This “tropicalization” is also a disaster for the Mediterranean, according to the WWF report, because it means that reef areas previously dominated by kelp forests and rich in biodiversity they are transforming

The aforementioned invasive fish species are taking away the vegetation, which then cannot regenerate in time, and sThey are being replaced by faster-growing invasive tropical algae.

3. Jellyfish are taking over the Mediterranean

Although jellyfish are an important part of a balanced marine ecosystem, if this balance is broken they can become a big problem. This has been happening in the Mediterranean Sea since 2003 due to the increase in the temperature of its waters.

This increase in temperatures encourages jellyfish populations to reproduce annually –previously it happened every few years–, which means that its presence increases rapidly and uncontrollably.

As jellyfish feed on fish larvae and compete with them Also, they are becoming the main predators in the Mediterranean. WWF warns: the “medusification” of the sea – the domination of the sea by jellyfish – is becoming a reality.

4. Posidonia is in danger (and with it our coasts)

Posidonia oceanica is a typical Mediterranean sea grass essential to maintain its ecosystem. This grass forms meadows in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea and provides habitat for 20% of the marine species that inhabit it.

In addition, they provide oxygen and serve as breeding grounds for many species. Likewise, the dead leaves of Posidonia float in autumn, when the weather gets worse, calming the waves of the sea and protecting against coastal erosion.

The high temperatures and the increase in the frequency and intensity of storms are also transforming the seabed. It has already been seen that, as sea temperatures in western areas of the Mediterranean rise, the Posidonia population weakens and is replaced by invasive algae.

These invasive algae ecosystems tend to be less complex, which has implications for coastal protection.

5. The coral can disappear (and that is a tragedy)

The “sea fans” of the Mediterranean are extremely beautiful but, in addition, the entire ecosystem depends on its presence. The increase in temperatures is destroying these corals and this has a direct impact on marine biodiversity, which is decreasing in parallel.

6. The mythical mussels of the Mediterranean (and their functions): in danger

The populations of native molluscs have decreased by almost 90% in the easternmost waters of the Mediterranean. The mussel Pinna nobilis It is the most present bivalve in the Mediterranean. This plays an important ecological role: contributes to the water clarity filtering large amounts of debris and provides a habitat where many different species are added.

The increasing number of invasive species, again due to climate change, endangers the population of Pinna nobilis which is already seriously weakened. And it is that invasive algae could alter their food sources or even voracious invasive crabs could eat their young.