Salinity tolerance of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica: recommendations to minimize the impact of brine discharges from desalination plants Original Research Article

Desalination of seawater has become an important and growing industry due to the present water shortage in some Mediterranean countries. This activity may result in some environmental impacts, mainly generated by the discharge into the sea of the brine produced, which can affect marine benthic communities. Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is an endemic seagrass of the Mediterranean Sea, where its meadows represent a relevant ecosystem susceptible to being affected by these desalination effluents. The present study was planned in order to investigate the effects of hypersaline discharges on P. oceanica and its main associated organisms, and to provide adequate knowledge to help managers in the taking of decisions related to hypersaline discharges potentially affecting Posidonia meadows, particularly in the Spanish Mediterranean.