• Skip to main content
  • Français
Press
  • Home
  • Institute
    • Mediterranean species
      Annular seabream
      Axinella sponge
      Black scorpionfish
      Black seabream
      Black sea cucumber
      Black sea urchin
      Blacktailed wrasse
      Blotched picarel
      • About
      • › In brief
      • › Global advocacy
      • › 50+ years of history
      • The Team
      • › Organisation
      • The Aquarium
      • › About the aquarium
      • › Practical information
      • › Mediterranean species
      • › Mediterranean biotopes
      • A site in nature
      • › Les Embiez island
      • The Association
      • › Board of directors
      • › Honorary committee
      • › Become a member
  • Research
    • Research Programmes
      LIFE Pinnarca
      MaCoBios
      Posidonia oceanica seagrass m [...]
      New Innovative Feed for Susta [...]
      Environmental DNA (eDNA)
      Ich.T.O.
      Podestat
      Integrated multi-trophic aqua [...]
      • › Research programmes
      • › Research Center
      • › Scientific Communication
      • › International Cooperation
      • › Take OFF, Take Ocean For Future
  • Outreach
    • Environmental issues
      Climate
      Biodiversity
      Nature-based solutions
      Living resources
      Governance
      The Mediterranean, a model ocean
      • › Popular science
      • › Newsletter
      • › Media Library
      • › Press review
      • › Environmental issues
  • Brown meagre. (© P. Lelong)
  • Eponge tubulaire rose. (© P. Lelong)
    Pink tube sponge. (© P. Lelong)
  • Painted comber. (© P. Lelong)
  • European herring gull on the Frioul islands. (© C. F.-B)
  • Coralligenous habitat in the Scandola marine reserve in Corsica. (© P. Lelong)
  • Previous
  • Next
Close
 › Environmental issues › Biodiversity

Biodiversity

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) first presented the concept of biodiversity in 1985, and it was taken up by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1988.
Issues
› Climate› Biodiversity› Nature-based solutions› Living resources› Governance› The Mediterranean, a model ocean

The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio de Janeiro adopted the following definition of biodiversity: “the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”

The Mediterranean is one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots identified by the non-governmental organisation Conservation International (CI). While it represents only 0.82% of the world’s Ocean surface, it is a major reservoir of marine and coastal biodiversity. 28% of its populations are endemic species, and its 8500 macroscopic organisms make up 7.5% of the world’s marine fauna and 18% of its flora.

However, as elsewhere, human activities are having a massive impact on biodiversity and creating multiple challenges. Habitats are disappearing, pollution is impacting the physicochemical profile of its waters, fish stocks are under pressure and climate change is driving the spread of invasive species.

If plant or animal species are allowed to disappear, the ensuing loss of genetic diversity, food resources and undiscovered medical or industrial potential will be irreversible. It is however important to bear in mind that biodiversity is always evolving. With climate change, new species are appearing in the western Mediterranean without necessarily creating an imbalance in existing ecosystems.

Today, we have more and more solutions for protecting biodiversity, including protected areas, legislation giving special status to our coastlines or to certain species (like Posidonia seagrass, fan mussels or dusky grouper), wastewater treatment and the restoration of shallow coastal waters.

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
The Institute’s work
  • Pinna SPOT

    The Pinna nobilis fan mussel is the largest shellfish in the Mediterranean, a protected, endemic species and an indicator of environmental quality. The Institute has long been researching this species and our current programmes involve counting and studying population and their genetics.

    Research programme
  • IchTO

    This project is an inventory of fish in the waters of west Toulon (south of France). The results should provide essential information for authorities about fish stocks in the area and also give us a baseline for monitoring the impact of global trends on the marine environment.

    Research programme
  • Podestat

    The Calanque de Podestat is in the Calanques National Mark near Marseille. It belongs to the energy company EDF, whose goal is to turn it into a natural laboratory for biodiversity observation and conservation. EDF commissioned the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute to perform an exhaustive inventory of the calanque’s fauna and flora. This helps show the calanque’s baseline condition when the Calanques National Park was established and monitor how populations respond.

    Research programme
  • SAR-LAB

    This programme is a comprehensive environmental restoration experiment using the Brusc lagoon in the Mediterranean as a pilot site. The goal is to develop innovative procedures and obtain feedback on how we can favourably influence the environment. SAR-LAB is one of the ways in which we are complying with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

    Research programme
Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Institut océanographique Paul Ricard
Île des Embiez - 83140 Six-Fours-les-Plages
Tél. +33 (0)4 94 34 02 49
  • › Partners
  • › Press
  • › Sitemap
  • › Terms & Conditions
  • › Privacy Policy
  • › Cookies Policy
  • › Credits