Detect coastal disturbances and climate change effects in coralligenous community through sentinel stations

Application of the SBPQ methodology for its validation: Target species, permanent grids, and underwater sentinel stations The SBPQ method was proposed by Garcı´a-Go´mez [43] together with an identification guide for sensitive indicator species vs. tolerant species, and was published by The Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA). The RAC/SPA was established in Tunis in 1985 and is responsible for assessing the status of the natural heritage and helping Mediterra- nean countries to implement the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA/BD Protocol), which came into force in 1999. This methodology has been designed as a simple, non-invasive, underwater environmental alert tool for the potential early detection of environmental impacts of anthropic origin in the sub- littoral system: in the short term (local alterations derived from pollutants from industries or emis- sions of urban origin, coastal dredging or civil engineering works on the coast, intrusion of exotic Fig 1. Location of the sampling point in the Strait of Gibraltar Natural Park. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231641.g001 PLOS ONE Detect coastal disturbances in coralligenous PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231641 May 5, 2020 4 / 23