Spatio-temporal trends in diversity of demersal fish assemblages in the Mediterranean

摘要: The high species richness, coupled with proportion of endemism, makes the Mediterranean one world’s ‘biodiversity hotspots’. However, continuous increase in fisheries last few decades has led to overexploitation their main commercial stocks. Using fishery-independent data collected under framework MEDITS trawl surveys carried out over 20 years, we study demersal fish diversity pattern at a large spatial and temporal scale determine whether it is being affected by general fishing resources. detected trends are compared spatio-temporal variation bottom effort Mediterranean. Our results show stability even recovery together higher values on continental shelves Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Sicily Aegean Sea. At scales, assemblages associated reduction effort. inclusion other than target ones through indices important implementation an ecosystem-based management.