9.3 Living resources

9.3.1 Flora

The coastal lagoons flora depends on the type of water and physical and chemical conditions. Because each coastal lagoon has its own characteristics and is generally different in water inputs, hydraulic management and human handling, differences exist between the main species in each lagoon.

Vegetation in Spanish coastal lagoons varies with salinity and depth and permanence of the water. The flora is composed of submerged aquatic plants adapted to salinity (halophiles) as Najas, Ruppia, Althenia, Zannichellia, Elatine or Callitriche, hydrophytes floating leaves as Ranunculus peltatus or amphibian as Eleocharis parvula (Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentacion y Medio Ambiente, 2005). In the lagoon surroundings there are formations linked to soil moisture, and thickets of succulent Chenopodiaceae Arthrocnemum, Sarcocornia or Suaeda in mosaic with Salicornia europaea as a pioneer halophilic and other annual, or rushes, less halophilic, or even masegares, sword-signals and reeds in nearly sweet water (Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentacion y Medio Ambiente, 2005)

Channel in Albufera de Majora, photo ©PNAlbufera, 2011

9.3.2 Aquatic fauna

In coastal lagoons freshwater, brackish and marine species live, depending on the percentages of the water type received at each location.

Typical marine species are gilthead seabream, European seabass, grey mullets, European eel, meagre and others more specific of the local zones. Brackish water species are grey mullets, eels, shrimp, red crab; and freshwaters species are carp and salmonids (Ramsar, 2012).
It should be noted that a number of valuable wildlife species, cited by Pardo L. (1942), are now extinct in some areas, and among them are the fartet (Aphanius iberus) and the samaruc (Valencia hispanica). Both are endemic Iberian-Levantine with a very restricted distribution of certain wetlands on the Mediterranean coast. In the case of samaruc, its distribution is further restricted, and it is now relegated to a few small wetlands around Valencia. Both species are very beneficial to man, being large-eating mosquitoes (Culicidae). Until the 1920s, they were often sold as aquarium animals.

9.3.3 Wildlife

Spanish coastal lagoons are important wintering and staging areas for migratory populations of water birds. Birds are the most representative group of fauna. The highlight is the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), a true specialist in the salt marshes and coastal lagoons, which obtains its food by filtering the water with its beak, or the common avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and common stilt (Himantophus himantophus), wading with their long legs the shores in search of their prey (Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentacion y Medio Ambiente, 2005). No endangered mammalian species are recorded.