Temporal patterns of the seagrass "Cymodocea nodosa" and depth-related patterns of the green algae "Caulerpa prolifera" in the Canarian Archipelago

Abstract

Cymodocea nodosa is the most important seagrass on shallow coastal waters of the Canarian Archipelago, playing fundamental functions for the coastal ecosystem. No study has yet investigated temporal population trends at the entire archipelago scale. By using a large amount of data collected over the past 23 years by local enterprises and research groups, we analyzed the population tendency of Cymodocea nodosa throughout the past two decades in the Canarian Archipelago. During this period, a prevalence of negative trends was revealed for three demographic seagrass descriptors (seagrass shoot density, coverage and leaf length), evidencing an overall deteriorating in meadow integrity. These results suggest the necessity to develop correct management strategies for coastal areas