@article{fdi:010090300,
  title = {{E}cosystem-based assessment of a widespread {M}editerranean marine habitat : the {C}oastal {D}etrital {B}ottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages},
  author = {{A}struch, {P}. and {O}rts, {A}. and {S}chohn, {T}. and {B}elloni, {B}. and {B}allesteros, {E}. and {B}anaru, {D}. and {B}ianchi, {C}. {N}. and {B}oudouresque, {C}. {F}. and {C}hangeux, {T}homas and {C}hevaldonn{\'e}, {P}. and {H}armelin, {J}. {G}. and {M}ichez, {N}. and {M}onnier, {B}. and {M}orri, {C}. and {T}hibaut, {T}. and {V}erlaque, {M}. and {D}aniel, {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}ntroduction: {C}oastal detrital bottoms ({CDB}) are one of the most extensive habitats of the continental shelf worldwide, in the upper levels of the circalittoral zone. {H}osting a diverse community structured by sediment grain size, trophic interactions and calcified organisms, {CDB} exhibit important ecological functions. {I}n the {M}editerranean {S}ea, {CDB} are constituted by recent elements partly provided by adjacent infralittoral and circalittoral ecosystems. {S}ince the 2010s, the offshore extension of many {M}arine {P}rotected {A}reas ({MPA}s) has resulted in the incorporation of vast areas of {CDB}, raising the issue of their management. {T}he {M}arine {S}trategy {F}ramework {D}irective ({MSFD}) has embraced the concept of an ecosystem-based approach involving taking into account the functioning of marine habitats and their related ecosystem services. {T}he purpose of this paper is to propose an ecosystem-based quality index ({EBQI}) tested on {CDB} from the north-western {M}editerranean {S}ea, focusing mainly on epibenthic assemblages. {M}ethods: {T}he first step has been to define a conceptual model of the {CDB} functioning, including the main trophic compartments and their relative weighting, then to identify appropriate assessment methods and potential descriptors. {T}wenty-nine sites were sampled along the coast of {P}rovence and {F}rench {R}iviera ({S}outhern {F}rance). {S}tudy sites were chosen with a view to encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions and human pressures. {R}esults: {V}ery well-preserved sites were found in {P}rovence in areas without trawling and terrigenous inputs, while impacted and low-{ES} sites were located in the vicinity of urbanized areas. {T}he cover of rhodoliths characterizes the seascape and might be an indicator of the good {ES} of {CDB} and reduced human pressure. {H}owever, the absence of rhodoliths may also be induced by natural phenomena. {D}iscussion: {T}he {EBQI} designed for {CDB} proved representative and useful for a functional assessment based on epibenthic assemblages. {H}owever, some descriptors have shown their limitations and should be further explored. {W}e highlight here the priority of establishing an index corresponding to a societal demand (e.g., {E}uropean {D}irectives, {B}arcelona convention) as a basis for a broad and large-scale assessment, for practical reasons. {W}e stress the need to better apprehend the role of the macro-infauna and to extend this index over a wider geographical scale.},
  keywords = {coastal detrital bottoms ; ecosystem-based approach ({EBA}) ; quality ; assessment ; marine habitat ; rhodolith beds ; epibenthic assemblages ; {MEDITERRANNEE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}rontiers in {M}arine {S}cience},
  volume = {10},
  numero = {},
  pages = {1130540 [25 p.]},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.3389/fmars.2023.1130540},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010090300},
}