Mediterranean coastal resources management: The example of the island of Corsica

Conference · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:478172

Pasqualini, V; Pergent-Martini, C; Pergent, G ^[1]

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1. Universite de Corse (France)

To undertake an inventory of the resources around the Mediterranean coasts necessarily involves a study of the distribution of the Posidonia oceanica meadows because of the major role they play (from ecological, economic and sedimentary points of view) in maintaining the equilibrium of the coastal environment. Paradoxically, the available data regarding the assemblages are rare, and only deal with a small part of the Corsican coastline, although the coastal areas constitute one of the major assets of the island with regard to economic development. To make good this lack, a cartographical survey has been undertaken for the whole of the Corsican coastline (about 950 km). Because of the relatively wide bathymetric range of Posidonia oceanica (0 to 40 m depth), two techniques have been used jointly : airborne remote sensing and side scan sonar. The results obtained confirm the extensiveness of these meadows with regard to the area covered (more than 60 000 ha). In addition, the maximum bathymetric range of the Posidonia oceanica meadow (lower limit) is unusually deep, with an average maximum depth of more than 35 m. Comparison of the present results with the available data on the distribution of the main meadows worldwide confirms the exceptionally wide range of this species around the Corsican coastline.

• OSTI ID: 478172
• Report Number(s): CONF-970319--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DESALINATION
FRANCE
ISLANDS
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
POPULATION DENSITY
SEAWEEDS