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Marine heatwaves devastate red gorgonians in the Medes Islands - EurekAlert
The increase in the frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves in recent decades is one of the effects of global climate change. A study by the University of Barcelona, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, shows that the extreme heatwave of 2022 caused an “unprecedented” increase in mortality of the red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata, affecting 70% of the colonies located in the Montgrí Natural Park, the Medes Islands and the Baix Ter. According to the researchers, these results are “alarming and threaten the viability” of this species of great value for the biodiversity of benthic ecosystems, since it is considered to be an inhabitant-forming species.
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