Introduction:
What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity is defined as the variety of all kinds of life on earth, every species and living organism. The Mediterranean Basin is classified as a biodiversity hotspot and actually the world's second largest biodiversity hotspot due to its almost 30,000 plant species, 13,00 of which are found nowhere else and also its wide range of bird and animal species. However, all of these things are in danger of degradation or extinction.
Background Information:
The Mediterranean Basin is located at the Mediterranean Sea, South of Europe and North of Africa. The European countries along the north side of the basin include Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece. To the east are Middle Eastern countries; Turkey, Syria, and Israel. Lastly, On the southern border of the basin are Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. Within this hotspot both aquatic and terrestrial lands are present with a large variety of biodiversity.
This Basin is in multiple biomes including both land and sea. The Mediterranean Basin has Chaparral, Temperate Forest, and Aquatic biomes on the different pieces of land characterized by woodland and scrubs on the coasts and dry land and the aquatic Mediterranean Sea.
There are many problems faced by the Mediterranean Basin such as environmental degradation, due to both natural causes and also human causes. For example, in the Mediterranean region the sea is being degraded by sea pollution mainly with oil and overfishing by humans for profit and for food. Human tourism on the Mediterranean beaches have degraded landscapes, eroded the soil, increased waste in the sea, and put a higher pressure on endangered species and increased the possibility of a large forest fire. All of which are dangerous to the survival and productivity of this hotspot.
and shelter from floods and storms, on which the sites and the species depend."(cepf.net, 2) Not only that, but the Basin also provides economic services for 15 countries with 7 sites having the last pristine coastlines in the Mediterranean Basin. This landscape brings in money through its tourism of these sites and also through its other services like fish to catch and sell.
Although this is a beautiful landscape, humans are still degrading it through overfishing, oil pollution in the sea, 100 million tourists littering and damaging the coastal areas, and forest loss due to fragmentation, tourism and clearing.
The result of all of this tourism on coastlines accounting for 30% of the international tourist destinations has been severely damaged and degraded. Oil spills and sea pollution have also proven toxic to marine life and can completely cover organisms making it difficult for them to survive as usual and maintain their body temperatures.
There are over 13,000 plant species in the Mediterranean Basin that are native to and exist only in the Basin including the Cystoseirae, seaweeds that build up marine life, which are endangered and endemic to the Mediterranean.
There are many problems faced by the Mediterranean Basin such as environmental degradation, due to both natural causes and also human causes. For example, in the Mediterranean region the sea is being degraded by sea pollution mainly with oil and overfishing by humans for profit and for food. Human tourism on the Mediterranean beaches have degraded landscapes, eroded the soil, increased waste in the sea, and put a higher pressure on endangered species and increased the possibility of a large forest fire. All of which are dangerous to the survival and productivity of this hotspot.
Discussion:
The Mediterranean Basin provides many ecosystem and natural services that we take for granted and continue to degrade. The Basin provides ecological services, "Such as provision of fresh waterand shelter from floods and storms, on which the sites and the species depend."(cepf.net, 2) Not only that, but the Basin also provides economic services for 15 countries with 7 sites having the last pristine coastlines in the Mediterranean Basin. This landscape brings in money through its tourism of these sites and also through its other services like fish to catch and sell.
Although this is a beautiful landscape, humans are still degrading it through overfishing, oil pollution in the sea, 100 million tourists littering and damaging the coastal areas, and forest loss due to fragmentation, tourism and clearing.
The result of all of this tourism on coastlines accounting for 30% of the international tourist destinations has been severely damaged and degraded. Oil spills and sea pollution have also proven toxic to marine life and can completely cover organisms making it difficult for them to survive as usual and maintain their body temperatures.
There are over 13,000 plant species in the Mediterranean Basin that are native to and exist only in the Basin including the Cystoseirae, seaweeds that build up marine life, which are endangered and endemic to the Mediterranean.
Conclusion:
The Mediterranean Basin is in danger along with its inhabitants due to human activities such as overfishing and tourism. One of the largest biodiversity hotspots in the world with high net primary productivity providing ecological, natural, and economic services to the area could be completely destroyed if we don't do anything about it.Work Cited:
1. “Mediterranean Basin.” CEPF.net-. Web. 10 December 2015.
2. "Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean Basin." Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean Basin. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
3. "Mediterranean Basin." Species. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
4. "Key Threats in the Mediterranean Region." WWF -. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
5. "Mediterranean Basin: Ecosystem Profile Overview." CEPF.net -Mediterranean Basin. 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
6.Food-web Traits of the North Aegean Sea Ecosystem (Eastern Mediterranean, Greece) and Comparison with Other Mediterranean Ecosystems." Food-web Traits of the North Aegean Sea Ecosystem (Eastern Mediterranean, Greece) and Comparison with Other Mediterranean Ecosystems. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.
7. "How Oil Harms Animals and Plants in Marine Environments | Response.restoration.noaa.gov." How Oil Harms Animals and Plants in Marine Environments | Response.restoration.noaa.gov. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.
8."Mediterranean Endangered: For a Sea Free of Waste." Expeditionmed.eu. Ed. Bruno Dumontet. Expedition Med, 2007. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.
9. "Marine Food Webs." Marine Food Webs. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.
10."Weather Almanac for March 2007." The Weather Doctor Almanac 2007 The Mediterranean: Birthplace of the Winds. 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 13 Dec. 2015.
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2007/alm07mar.htm
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