Monitoring of native and NIS associated with seagrass meadows in the Gulf of Cádiz (Torregorda, Spain)
This monitoring program, conducted by CSIC-ICMAN, focuses on the benthic communities of Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Torregorda, located in the Gulf of Cádiz (Southwestern Europe). Initiated in August 2021, the program aims to characterize the diversity and ecological roles of both native and non-indigenous species, with particular attention to African-creep and other non-native species. It employs an integrated approach combining genetic, ecological, and environmental methods to detect species presence, evaluate their interactions with native communities, along with their effects and interactions with other factors in the ecosystem.Sampling occurs annually by SCUBA diving, covering five fixed sites, with two 10 m transects and ten 1 m² quadrats per site. Taxonomic focus includes Arthropoda (Malacostraca, Decapoda), Mollusca (Gastropoda: Littorinimorpha; Bivalvia), Cnidaria (Actiniaria, Hexacorallia, Actiniidae), and Chordata (Actinopterygii, Perciformes).<br>
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