A mesoscale analysis of relations between fish species richness and environmental and anthropogenic pressures in the Mediterranean Sea

Although there is a great knowledge about individual anthropogenic threats to different fish species in the Mediterranean Sea, little is known about how these threats accumulate and interact to affect fish species richness in conjunction with environmental dynamics. This study assesses the role of these threats in the fish richness component and identifies the main areas where the interaction between fish species richness and threats is highest. Our results show that in several regions, the interaction between environmental and anthropogenic threats leads to reduced fish species richness. These findings highlight the need for integrated management approaches to mitigate the cumulative impacts of multiple threats on marine biodiversity.