The Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal Wetlands in Mediterranean Regions

SILVIA MACIS ¹, Alba CUENA-LOMBRAÑA ¹, Michela MARIGNANI ¹

Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Viale S. Ignazio, 13, 09123 Cagliari (CA), Sardinia, Italy ¹

Climate change poses an increasing threat to natural habitats in Mediterranean climate regions, particularly affecting coastal wetlands, whose vulnerability is well documented but still under-researched. Accordingly, although it is recognized that Mediterranean ecosystems such as coastal wetlands are at risk, specific studies on the effects of climate change on their specific ecological dynamics remain limited. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review of literature gathered from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), encompassing publications from January 1992 to November 2024. Our analysis aimed at categorizing studies based on climate change factors, environmental impacts, methodological approaches, and geographic scale. From a total of 826 articles initially screened, 70 specifically addressed the effects of climate change on Mediterranean coastal wetlands, with 96.6% focusing on the Mediterranean Basin. Key climate change factors identified included sea level rise (SLR), salinity, increased temperatures, extreme events, altered precipitation, and drought. SLR emerged as the most studied factor, whose impact affects generalized wetland systems, soil, vegetation, and coastal human heritage. Secondly, the effects of salinity, which is closely associated with SLR, were highlighted as significantly influencing plant and animal communities, disrupting freshwater habitats, and degrading soil health. Rising temperatures were mainly correlated with the detriment of biological and physical processes, particularly vegetation and wildlife, while extreme events such as heatwaves, floods, and storms were reported as factors exacerbating damage across ecosystems. Conversely, precipitation and drought received comparatively less attention despite their critical role in shaping wetland hydrology and vegetation responses. The reviewed studies highlighted uneven research efforts, with a predominant focus on specific climate factors and their interactions with generalized wetland systems, often neglecting more targeted assessments of agriculture, soil, and human heritage. Methodologically, these studies employed diverse approaches, including modelling, IPCC scenario analyses, experimental works, and observational research, with scales ranging from local to regional. Our findings underscore the pressing need for integrated management strategies that address the interconnected impacts of SLR and salinity, both of which are exacerbated by rising temperatures and increased evapotranspiration. Such integration is crucial for mitigating cascading effects, including reduced freshwater availability, salt accumulation in soils, eutrophication, and shifts in species composition. Identifying vulnerable species and understanding species-specific adaptations is essential for devising effective conservation strategies. Globally, the concentration of research within the Mediterranean Basin contrasts with the relative paucity of studies on coastal wetlands from other Mediterranean climate regions worldwide. Expanding research to these regions would offer valuable insights into shared vulnerabilities and adaptive responses, enabling a more holistic understanding of global Mediterranean ecosystems. Future research should adopt interdisciplinary approaches to address underexplored issues, particularly the socio-ecological impacts on human heritage, agriculture, soil, and vegetation. Mediterranean coastal wetlands are undergoing profound changes reflecting global climate change patterns. Therefore, considering the expected profound changes to coastal wetlands due to climate change, effective conservation and management should require a comprehensive perspective that integrates multiple climate factors and their cumulative impacts.

Main author career stage: PhD student

Contribution type: Poster

First choice session: 3. Biodiversity and global change

Second choice session: 2. Ecology