globalwarminginducingtropicalizationofthelevantinebasin（26页）.docVIP

Global warming inducing “Tropicalization” of the Levantine Basin (East Mediterranean). Does it affect Marine Biodiversity? Sami LAKKIS Section of Oceanography, Biology Department, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon E-mail: slakkis@.lb Abstract The Eastern Mediterranean, including Levantine Basin and Lebanese sector, is a highly oligotrophic water body, showing low concentrations in nutrients. Temperature and salinity are the highest in the entire Mediterranean. These hydrological conditions which are close to those prevailing in the Northern Red Sea, induce northward current in the Suez Canal and thus facilitate migration of marine organisms from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean. Lessepsian migration which is a continuous phenomenon due to man-made Suez Canal resulted in hundreds of species, either from benthic as well as pelagic environment. Many of them have established ecological niche in the Levantine Sea, with a stable populations.In monitoring oceanographic conditions of the Lebanese neritic seawater since 1965, we noticed slightly but progressive increment in salinity (S=39.37 ‰ ± 0.35) and temperature (T=22.55 oC ±0.40) .This hydrological changes, inducing change of the ecology has a big impact on the marine resources and on the biodiversity of flora and fauna. Among several Indo-pacific and Eritrean species introduced in the East Mediterranean, many alien have invaded the Lebanese coastal and neritic seawater. The Scyphozoan Rhopilema nomadica,the brown algae Stypopodium shimperi and the fishes Fistularia commersoni, Sargocentrum rubrum and Stephanolepis diaspros are striking examples among many others. The number of exotic invaders has been progressively increased since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. To day about 500 marine species belonging to pelagic and benthic environments have been recorded in the area, from which 90% have established permanent populations the Levantine Basin. Out of 400 phytoplankton species so far found in the Lebanese w