Ecological similarities between two Mediterranean wetlands: Sidi Boughaba (North-West Morocco) and the Doñana National Park (South-West Spain)

A limnological comparison of two Mediterranean wetlands, Merja Sidi Boughaba (North-West Morocco) and Doñana National Park (South-West Spain), reveals striking ecological similarities driven by shared palaeoenvironmental histories and hydrological processes. Both sites, designated Ramsar wetlands on Atlantic coastal dune systems with Mediterranean climates, exhibit comparable physico-chemical conditions, including a slight disproportion of magnesium over calcium due to oceanic influence. The study highlights their rich submersed macrophyte communities, particularly dense charophyte beds, supported by high primary production and biodiversity. Unlike temperate deep lakes, these shallow aquatic systems show no significant correlation between chlorophyll concentrations and phosphorus levels, reflecting efficient nutrient recycling through sediments and strong seasonal water-level fluctuations. This research underscores the value of regional-scale comparisons in understanding Mediterranean wetland dynamics.

Elkhiati, N., Ramdani, M., Espinar, J. L., Fahd, K., & Serrano, L. (2013). Ecological similarities between two Mediterranean wetlands: Sidi Boughaba (North-West Morocco) and the Doñana National Park (South-West Spain). Journal of Limnology, 72(2), 24. https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2013.e24