Biodiversity in Benidorm's bay

The diversity of the seabeds of the Mediterranean coasts, and in particular of the coast of the province of Alicante, is high and varied, given the number of species that make up the ecosystem. The bay of Benidorm, embraced by Serra Gelada mountain and Tossal de la Cala, is a good example of this diversity. Precisely the incalculable ecological and environmental value of Serra Gelada and the seabeds that surround it, together with the cultural and historical wealth of the environment, led in 2005 to the declaration of this entire space as a maritime-terrestrial Natural Park, the first of its kind in the Valencian Community.

88% of the surface area of ​​the Natural Park, the equivalent of nearly 4,900 hectares, corresponds to the marine environment and reaches the bays of Benidorm, l’Alfàs del Pi and Altea. In this marine environment, you can dive over large meadows of Posidonia and rocky bottoms with caves, arches and large blocks of rock, especially near the island of Benidorm where it is located the reef known as La Llosa.

MARINE FAUNA:

On the coast of Benidorm, at just 3 or 4 metres deep, it is common to find mojarras ( oisteichthyes), or gilthead seabreams, maidenfish, spectacular schools of salps, red and purple starfish and sea cucumbers ( holothuroidea). These waters also harbor octopuses, oysters, morays and barracuda (sphyraena barracuda).

–Barracuda. ​​A large predator that usually moves in schools. They are very fast fish, thanks to their tail, they can accelerate from 0 to 90 km/h in a few seconds. A peculiarity of this species is that when they are in the breeding season, they can spawn an incredible 300,000 eggs.

–Seahorse. Belonging to the Syngnathidae family, these friendly animals are very voracious, since they lack a stomach and are always hungry. Another peculiarity is that the males give birth to the young.

–Octopus. Mitjana Island is the main habitat for octopuses and other types of cephalopods, normally remaining hidden behind the coral. In addition to their ability to hide, octopuses have other curiosities, such as the fact that they have three hearts or smell through their tentacles.

– Oblada. It is oval-shaped and silver-grey. They usually measure 20 centimetres, although somewhat larger specimens have been found. It is hermaphrodite, although sometimes a specimen with only one sex has been found.

– Salpa. It moves in schools and it is amazing to see how precisely it coordinates its movements. They are very elusive fish and move away at great speed and in unison when they sense danger, as if they were a single fish.

- Loggerhead turtle. It is very rare to find a loggerhead turtle on land. Sightings usually occur in the depths of the sea, although on rare occasions they come out onto the beaches of Benidorm to spawn. They can be up to 1 metre long and weigh more than 100 kilograms. With a life expectancy that can exceed 50 years, they are in danger of extinction.

- Stingray. The stingray is another very common fish in the marine fauna of Alicante. It is possible to find different types of rays, such as the beaked or the tremolosa (the latter is very curious because it is electric).

- Bottlenose dolphin. It is the most common cetacean, which has a stable population group, especially seen in spring and is made up of adult specimens and also babies. The average size of the groups of dolphins is usually about 5 specimens.

Among the other species common in the waters of Benidorm are the amberjack, little tunny, tuna, golfás, mackerel, melva, dolphinfish, squid, dentex, papaya, as well as different types of sea slugs. Special mention should be made of the raoret, a fish that lives in fine sand and mud bottoms, up to a depth of 35 metres, which makes it difficult to catch. Its meat is considered a delicacy.

But beyond the fauna that hides beneath the surface, it is worth highlighting the different seabirds that have a fundamental part of their habitat in the waters of Benidorm. The common storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis), an endangered species, nests on Mitjana Island and Benidorm Island, one of the largest breeding colonies in the western Mediterranean with more than 500 pairs. Along with the common storm petrel, there are also the European shag (Gulosus aristotelis), the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) and Audouin's gull.

MARINE FLORA: POSIDONIA, FUNDAMENTAL ECOSYSTEM

The marine flora par excellence on Benidorm's coast is Posidonia. This plant of terrestrial origin adapted to life in the sea, has real roots that connect to the leaves using a vascular system, through the stem, called rhizome. It also has flowers and seeds in its reproductive cycle.

Its important ecological role is because it is a fundamental source of oxygen for the Mediterranean Sea. As a fact of interest, a single hectare of posidonia can transform into oxygen the same amount of CO2 as 5 hectares of Amazon rainforest. It also forms barrier reefs on the coasts, slowing down the waves and protecting the coast from erosion, and providing shelter, protection and food for numerous species. It also serves as an indicator of the environmental quality of a coastal area, due to its sensitivity to ecological changes.

To all this we must add that Posidonia oceanica is an endemic species of the Mediterranean, not possible to find it outside this sea.

Another very common and abundant plant in the waters of Benidorm is Cymodosea nodosa, a seagrass that can grow up to 60 centimetres high. It is found rooted in the seabed, in sandy, muddy or stony soils, and can be found up to 70 metres deep. The concentration of the grass is reminiscent of the grass on a sports field. This is because the green tone is almost transparent and very uniform.

We can also find Padina pavonica. Its common name is Turkey tail. It is an algae present in tropical and warm seas. It is fan-shaped and calcified with calcium carbonate. In addition, dark hairs can be found on its surface. It withstands temperature changes and intense exposure to light very well. However, it is very susceptible to variations in sea level.

Acetabularia acetabulum is also present on our coast. These algae are disc-shaped and 1 centimetre in diameter. Its name comes from Latin and can be translated as disk or saucer, it is located at a depth from 1 to 2 meters.