The overlooked impacts of freshwater scarcity on oceans as evidenced by the Mediterranean Sea.
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39900913.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-54979-4 and PMC identifier 11790830.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Water stress is an urgent issue in many regions worldwide, particularly in southern European countries. This study reveals the consequences of decreased freshwater flow on marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea due to climate change and escalating water demands. A 41% reduction in river flow may result in a 10% decline in marine primary productivity and a 6% decrease in biomass of commercial fish and invertebrate species. Regional reductions could be as high as 12% and 35%, disrupting coastal and marine ecosystems and their related socio-economic sectors. The findings emphasize the importance of considering nutrient load changes in water management strategies and incorporating marine ecosystem requirements into environmental flow requirements for freshwater bodies. Integrated, source-to-sink management approaches are crucial for sustainable water resource utilization.