The Global 200 : a representation Approach to Conserving the Earth’s Distinctive Ecoregions
Download 2.75 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- North Temperate Atlantic
MediterraneanM editerranean Sea [199] – Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Gibraltar (United Kingdom), Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Yugoslavia Geographic Location: Mediterranean Sea Biodiversity Features: Rocky reefs, seagrass meadows, and upwelling areas are particularly important habitats that support Mediterranean marine biodiversity. Seagrass meadows provide important habitat—especially as breeding, feeding, and resting areas—for numerous marine species, particularly fish, crustaceans, and marine turtles. These meadows produce more than 80 percent of the annual fish yield in the Mediterranean. The grasses also stabilize the seashore and maintain water quality, particularly through oxygen production. The rocky reef ecosystems provide habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) as well as several endemic fish and invertebrates. The Ligurian Sea represents the most significant upwelling area in the Mediterranean. This unusual sea has significant endemism in a range of taxa and is biologically distinctive from the adjacent Atlantic Ocean Selected Species: The endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), mullets (Mugilidae spp.), gilthead sea bream (Sparus auratus), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), and greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) are a few of the characteristic species found in these waters. Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) and several other species of dolphins are all found in this ecosystem, as are loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles. General Threats: Coastal development, intensive tourism, and land reclamation for agriculture place pressures on key wildlife habitats in the Mediterranean. Local and regional problems related to pollution, specifically effluent from domestic and industrial sources, oil transportation and refineries, and agricultural runoff, are beginning to have an impact on wildlife. Furthermore, these pollution issues threaten human populations and fisheries. Ten species of sea grass in the region are now considered endangered as the result of intense development, sand excavation, urbanization, and the release of untreated sewage into the sea. The dumping of untreated sewage is also a major public health issue, as increased numbers of microorganisms have led to an increase in several diseases. The rocky coasts of islands and archipelagos are less threatened than the seagrass meadows, largely due to the difficulty in accessing these areas, but also because of lower urbanization pressure. However, they are vulnerable to and suffer from pollution and trampling by tourists. The fisheries of this region have been overexploited and many local fisheries are declining as consequence of indiscriminate trawl fishing and high levels of bycatch. North Temperate AtlanticN ortheast Atlantic Shelf Marine [200] – Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom Geographic Location: North Atlantic Ocean Biodiversity Features: one of the most diverse and productive upwelling areas in the north atlantic Selected Species: Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea), porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus), Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), and capelin (Mallotus villosus). Several species of whales are found in this productive region, including minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), killer whale (Orcinus orca), beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas), narwhal (Monodon monoceros), bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) and blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). General Threats: Overfishing and pollution pose the greatest threats to this region. G rand Banks [201] – Canada, St. Pierre and Miquelon (France), United States Geographic Location: Atlantic Ocean off northeast North America Biodiversity Features: The Grand Banks is a highly productive region, supporting huge schools of pelagic fish, groundfish, and feeding whales. This area contains approximately 111 species of marine annelid worms and about 30 species of marine mammals. Historically, the area supported some of the world’s most productive fisheries, but overfishing and other activities have seriously degraded the ecosystem and depleted its biota. one of the richest and most productive upwelling zones of the western north atlantic Selected Species: Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) are part of the rich ecosystems that support an impressive mammal fauna. Besides beluga whales, marine mammals include the endangered northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis), grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). General Threats: Overfishing, especially of herring and cod, has seriously altered marine communities. Pollution poses another major threat to this region. Offshore dumping and the discharge of industrial and domestic wastes from major cities have severely degraded both estuaries and coastal waters. Eutrophication has resulted from sewage discharges, mariculture, fish processing plants, and pulp and paper mill effluents. Toxic contamination from agriculture and industry has further degraded these waters. Historically, beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) populations have been under intense hunting pressure in the St. Lawrence Estuary. Presently, belugas suffer from diseases associated with a suppressed immune system and the concentration of industrial toxic products (e.g., DDT) in their blubber. C hesapeake Bay [202] – United States Geographic Location: Eastern North America Biodiversity Features: The Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay complex is one of the largest estuaries on Earth. The region is highly productive, with commercially vital fisheries, particularly for blue crab and historically for oysters. one of north america’s, and the world’s, largest and most productive temperate estuaries Selected Species: Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), American oyster (Crassostrea virginica), horseshoe crab (Ilynassa polyphemus), soft-shelled clam (Mya arenaria), hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), marsh periwinkle (Littorina irrorata), and northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) are characteristic of this ecoregion. Anadromous fish species include American shad (Alosa sapidissima), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), and striped bass (Morone saxatilis). Other fish species include oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau), the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), and the marsh killifish (Fundulus confluentes), found in muddy marshes and other wetland areas. Among the many bird species are clapper rail (Rallus longirostris), tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus), Atlantic brant (Branta bernicla), wood duck (Aix sponsa), hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis), bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), green-backed heron (Butorides virescens), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and numerous shorebirds. General Threats: High levels of urban development and pollution from agriculture introduce contaminants and cause eutrophication and anoxic conditions in the bay. Overfishing and habitat destruction represent other anthropogenic disturbance factors. Directory: downloads downloads -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations downloads -> Dynatest 3031 lwd light Weight Deflectometer downloads -> Forth coming competitive exams downloads -> Brush High School Morning Announcements Friday, September 05, 2014 all school downloads -> Year 9 The Arts — Music downloads -> Years 7 and 8 standard elaborations — Australian Curriculum: Music draft downloads -> Chris Young sets 2016 “I’m Comin’ Over” Tour headlining dates downloads -> Slavery and Abolition: the Plymouth Connection Introduction downloads -> Summer Assignment Download 2.75 Mb. Share with your friends:
|