A recent study from the University of Barcelona has revealed the alarming vulnerability of the red gorgonian, a crucial species for the Mediterranean ecosystem, to the devastating effects of climate change-driven marine heatwaves. The findings highlight the urgent need for action to protect this vital marine community and the broader implications for the region’s ecological balance.
The Vital Role of Red Gorgonians
The spiny red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata is a keystone species of the Mediterranean coralligenous communities. They are inhabited by an amazing biodiversity, accounting for around 10 % of the Mediterranean species.
Red gorgonians as a foundation species, are important in keeping these ecosystems from moving into alternate stable states. They offer vital places to live, feed, and hide for various creatures, from tiny invertebrates to larger fish and marine mammals. The disappearance or decline of this species is doomed to wreak great damage on the entire Mediterranean seabed, causing significant upheavals in the delicate equilibrium of these rich underwater habitats.
Diminishing Resilience in the Face of Climate Change
Climate change is leading to the increasing frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves, with a subsequent decline in biodiversity and increased mortality of marine organisms marked by a rise in seawater temperature. Existing long-term comprehensive studies on red gorgonian responses to cyclone events previous have indicated resilience-related variations10, yet gorgonians living up to 20 m depth are particularly endangered from mass mortalities associated with Cyclones11.
The story told by the results is not a good one: populations of red gorgonians subjected to extreme weather conditions showed heavily reduced resilience and increased recovery times, relative to populations unaffected by these disturbances. The released sequential report reveals a worrying consequence that ongoing increased frequency of marine heatwaves will drive the extinction of this critical species in shallow water.
The study also found that these populations would have reduced levels of resistance and recovery to other disturbances after just one heatwave event, increasing their susceptibility. This poor level of resilience is of wider concern for long-lived species, in the context of global change.
Conclusion
As the author of this study, we confirm that rational and concrete measures should urgently be taken to combat climate change worldwide to preserve the fragile homeostasis of the Mediterranean ecosystem. These actions could include increasing the number of marine protected areas, regulating human activities in ecologically sensitive habitats, and improving policies aimed at addressing climate change mitigation to ensure the continued existence of the red gorgonian and the biodiversity linked to this species. The future of its keystone species is precarious in a region where the clock ticks faster than it does elsewhere—since the Mediterranean warms up quicker than global average, a drop in numbers would carry severe repercussions throughout the range.
