The History of Environmental Degradation in Mar Menor: A Case Study (Routledge Environmental History)

This book offers a multidisciplinary analysis of the degradation process of an ecosystem, drawing upon the Mar Menor as a case study to highlight the damage human pressure causes to the environment. All ecosystems change over time, although in some cases, this variation is more dynamic and evident.The Mar Menor is a clear example of this “ecological transition”, as it is the largest coastal lagoon in the western Mediterranean and the first ecosystem in Europe to be granted legal personhood rights.This book provides an extensive overview of the history of its environmental degradation over the past 100 years, highlighting the subsequent succession of environmental crises including phytoplankton explosions, the disappearance of large areas of submerged meadows due to eutrophication, and episodes of mass mortality of aquatic fauna.Split into three sections to reflect thematic blocks, the book begins with a comprehensive description of the Mar Menor and its marine ecosystems, emphasizing i