Resumen del producto

The Gulf of California and the Mediterranean Sea are ecosystems considered as spots of high marine biodiversity. Both regions are comparable from various physiographical and climatic perspectives. Both are enclosed seas characterized by a negative hydrological balance derived from high evaporation rates that are partially offset by the inflow of surface oceanic currents and, to a lesser extent, by precipitation and freshwater discharges from rivers; as a result, these seas are saltier than oceans. The Gulf of California, however, has a broad communication with the Pacific Ocean and is bordered by the coasts of a single country (Mexico), in contrast with the Western Mediterranean, which connects with the Atlantic Ocean through the Gibraltar Strait and involves littorals of six countries (Spain, France, Italy, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco), which share a complex centuries-long history of coastal settlements and exploitation of marine resources. These two basins are regarded as having a high biological diversity and share a similar number of marine mollusk species (2113/2193). It is worth noting that, when the surfaces covered by these basins are compared, the Gulf concentrates this high biodiversity within a rather small area. Furthermore, considering that studies focused on the Gulf of California are still scarce, it is estimated that the number of faunal records in the area will double as investigation works progress. Of the 293 families of marine mollusks reported in the literature reviewed for both basins, at least 120 share between one and four genera. This study aims to compare the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of California in terms of physiographic features, the diversity of mollusks inhabiting both basins by family, genera and number of species represented, and the role of these organisms as objects of commercial exploitation in fisheries.

Palabras clave: biodiversity; mollusks; Mediterranean Sea; Gulf of Califonia

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