Juan Usó-Canós

This study assessed the unplanned ecosystem services provided by a submarine monitoring station over 18 months, including an environmental characterisation of a shallow coastal shelf area off SW Tenerife (Canary Islands), a calculation of the benthic biomass developed (the generated blue carbon) and the identification of the species pool related to the installation, representing the associated biodiversity. The oligotrophic coastal waters at the studied site permitted a benthic biomass generation between 1.02 and 2.88 g m ⁻² , and a carbon sequestration between 0.24 and 0.40 g m ⁻² . Furthermore, 46 species belonging to 11 phyla were identified during 4 periodical monitoring dives. The ecosystem services provided by the monitoring station included primary production, carbon sequestration, fish nursery and shelter (regulating ecosystem service). The installation also benefited the biodiversity maintenance (regulating and maintenance ecosystem service). The environmental conditions (physical, chemical and biological) at the studied site were not a limiting factor for benthic biomass development. The amount of blue carbon generated was lower compared to the main blue carbon ecosystems (e.g., seagrass meadows, mangroves and salt marshes) and high-latitude (polar) ecosystems, but similar to Mediterranean gorgonian-based ecosystems. Our study demonstrates that the present oligotrophic study site is a good candidate for benthic ecosystem restoration due to its facility for blue carbon development and provision of ecosystem services.

This study assessed the unplanned ecosystem services provided by a submarine monitoring station over 18 months, including an environmental characterisation of a shallow coastal shelf area off SW Tenerife (Canary Islands), a calculation of the benthic biomass developed (the generated blue carbon) and the identification of the species pool related to the installation, representing the associated biodiversity. The oligotrophic coastal waters at the studied site permitted a benthic biomass generation between 1.02 g m^-2 and 2.88 g m^-2, and a carbon sequestration between 0.24 g m^-2 and 0.40 g m^-2. Furthermore, 46 species belonging to 11 phyla were identified during 4 periodical monitoring dives. The ecosystem services provided by the monitoring station included primary production, carbon sequestration, fish nursery and shelter (regulating ecosystem service). The installation also benefited the biodiversity maintenance (supporting ecosystem service). The environmental conditions (physical, chemical and biological) at the studied site were not a limiting factor for benthic biomass development. The amount of blue carbon generated was lower compared to the main blue carbon ecosystems (e.g., seagrass meadows, mangroves and salt marshes) and high-latitude (polar) ecosystems, but similar to Mediterranean gorgonian-based ecosystems. The present study demonstrates that the present oligotrophic study site is a good candidate for benthic ecosystem restoration due to its facility for blue carbon development and provision of ecosystem services.

This study assessed the unplanned ecosystem services provided by a submarine monitoring station over 18 months, including an environmental characterisation of a shallow coastal shelf area off SW Tenerife (Canary Islands), a calculation of the benthic biomass developed (the generated blue carbon) and the identification of the species pool related to the installation, representing the associated biodiversity. The oligotrophic coastal waters at the studied site permitted a benthic biomass generation between 1.02 g m^-2 and 2.88 g m^-2, and a carbon sequestration between 0.24 g m^-2 and 0.40 g m^-2. Furthermore, 46 species belonging to 11 phyla were identified during 4 periodical monitoring dives. The ecosystem services provided by the monitoring station included primary production, carbon sequestration, fish nursery and shelter (regulating ecosystem service). The installation also benefited the biodiversity maintenance (supporting ecosystem service). The environmental conditions (physical, chemical and biological) at the studied site were not a limiting factor for benthic biomass development. The amount of blue carbon generated was lower compared to the main blue carbon ecosystems (e.g., seagrass meadows, mangroves and salt marshes) and high-latitude (polar) ecosystems, but similar to Mediterranean gorgonian-based ecosystems. The present study demonstrates that the present oligotrophic study site is a good candidate for benthic ecosystem restoration due to its facility for blue carbon development and provision of ecosystem services.

This study assessed the unplanned ecosystem services provided by a submarine monitoring station over 18 months, including an environmental characterisation of a shallow coastal shelf area off SW Tenerife (Canary Islands), a calculation of the benthic biomass developed (the generated blue carbon) and the identification of the species pool related to the installation, representing the associated biodiversity. The oligotrophic coastal waters at the studied site permitted a benthic biomass generation between 1.02 g m^-2 and 2.88 g m^-2, and a carbon sequestration between 0.24 g m^-2 and 0.40 g m^-2. Furthermore, 46 species belonging to 11 phyla were identified during 4 periodical monitoring dives. The ecosystem services provided by the monitoring station included primary production, carbon sequestration, fish nursery and shelter (regulating ecosystem service). The installation also benefited the biodiversity maintenance (supporting ecosystem service). The environmental conditions (physical, chemical and biological) at the studied site were not a limiting factor for benthic biomass development. The amount of blue carbon generated was lower compared to the main blue carbon ecosystems (e.g., seagrass meadows, mangroves and salt marshes) and high-latitude (polar) ecosystems, but similar to Mediterranean gorgonian-based ecosystems. The present study demonstrates that the present oligotrophic study site is a good candidate for benthic ecosystem restoration due to its facility for blue carbon development and provision of ecosystem services.

Mesozooplankton were studied monthly (September 2023–August 2024, 12 months) at two coastal stations, at 35 and 90 m water depth, off Punta Blanca, SW Tenerife, Canary archipelago. Sample collection involved 250 and 500 μm bongo nets. This research focused on improving the description of plankton biodiversity and dynamics of the Canary archipelago (Macaronesia area), including its role in the transport of particulate carbon. A total of 156 taxa were identified. Copepoda dominated with 85 taxa, including 72 Calanoida species. They were numerically followed by Appendicularia, Chaetognatha, and Hydrozoa. Mesh sizes varied in collection efficiency, but with a similar pattern during the annual cycle: abundance peaks in early autumn (October–November) and late winter–spring (February–April). The 35 m depth station showed 57 to 3809 ind. m⁻³ (250 μm mesh size) and 10 to 1577 ind. m⁻³ (500 μm). The 90 m depth station showed 22 to 402 ind. m⁻³ (250 μm) and 11 to 170 ind. m⁻³ (500 μm). The present study enhances our understanding of Macaronesia’s mesozooplankton dynamics related to environmental variability, which is crucial for energy transfer assessments in pelagic food webs. It reports new species for the study area, Labidocera acutifrons (Dana, 1849–1852) and Undinula vulgaris (Dana, 1849–1852), highlighting the need for consistent zooplankton monitoring to properly inform conservation and sustainable management actions in the region.

This study assessed the unplanned ecosystem services provided by a submarine monitoring station over 18 months, including an environmental characterisation of a shallow coastal shelf area off SW Tenerife (Canary Islands), a calculation of the benthic biomass developed (the generated blue carbon) and the identification of the species pool related to the installation, representing the associated biodiversity. The oligotrophic coastal waters at the studied site permitted a benthic biomass generation between 1.02 g m-2 and 2.88 g m-2, and a carbon sequestration between 0.24 g m-2 and 0.40 g m-2. Furthermore, 46 species belonging to 11 phyla were identified during 4 periodical monitoring dives. The ecosystem services provided by the monitoring station included primary production, carbon sequestration, fish nursery and shelter (regulating ecosystem service). The installation also benefited the biodiversity maintenance (supporting ecosystem service). The environmental conditions (physical, chemical and biological) at the studied site were not a limiting factor for benthic biomass development. The amount of blue carbon generated was lower compared to the main blue carbon ecosystems (e.g., seagrass meadows, mangroves and salt marshes) and high-latitude (polar) ecosystems, but similar to Mediterranean gorgonian-based ecosystems. The present study demonstrates that the present oligotrophic study site is a good candidate for benthic ecosystem restoration due to its facility for blue carbon development and provision of ecosystem services.