The tides, they are a-changing

Between global warming, pollution, over-fishing and the introduction of alien species, the Mediterranean Sea is undergoing a far-reaching transformation. Marine biologist Professor Victor Axiak tells Raphael Vassallo why this is an issue which is of concern to us all

Dinoflagellates? Sounds like something out of Jurassic Park. But unlike T-Rex, these particular creatures cannot be seen or heard coming a mile away; and while they admittedly do not devour their prey whole, they nonetheless claim more victims each year than larger, more dramatic predators such as the Great White Shark.

For those unfamiliar with the rich complexities of microbiology, “dinoflagellates” are actually microscopic proto-plants commonly associated with warmer, tropical waters. To a marine biologist like Professor Victor Axiak, the fact that these potentially dangerous organisms have recently made an appearance in the Mediterranean is both a matter of professional interest, as well as cause for concern. Either way, they provide further evidence that the marine environment around us is slowly but surely changing.

“At present, we are discovering something like 15 new species every year,” says Prof. Axiak, who seems mildly surprised at my interest in dinoflagellates. “Many of these are attributable to the ‘Lessepsian migration’: the gradual introduction of new species since the opening of the Suez Canal. Global warming could also be a factor, as many of these species are native to warmer waters: mainly, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Naturally, this increase in alien species is also having an impact on existing marine ecosystems…”
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