• And which are the main terrestrial and marine biotic factors?

 

Biotic relationships are interactions that occur between community organisms, can be:

 

 

• Intraspecific relationships

• Interspecific relationships

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Intraspecific relationships are the interactions that are established between individuals of the same species. Competition relationships occur when two or more individuals compete for:

 

1. The resources of the environment: food, food, light, etc.

2. Reproduction: trying to get a mate for reproduction

3. Social dominance: an individual is imposed on the rest. 

 

These relationships can be harmful if they cause competition among individuals, or beneficial, if they favor their cooperation.

       

The relations of cooperation can be:

1. Family

2. Gregarious

3. Social

4. Colonial

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Interspecific relationships are the interactions that are established between individuals of different species. They can be negative, neutral or positive relationships.

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1. Relationship of competition

2. Relationship of predation

3. Parasitism relationship

4. Mutualism relationship

5. Symbiosis relation

6. Commensalism relationship

7. Tenancy relationship

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• What are the main adaptations that organisms have developed to live in this terrestrial and aquatic environment? For example, there are differences between the vegetation of the land area of the sun and the shade What kind of dune vegetation is? And the rupícola?

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Adaptations to the aquatic environment

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Aquatic plants that live completely submerged have other adaptations than those with floating leaves, but the following adaptations to the environment can be highlighted:

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1. The root in submerged plants is underdeveloped, as it does not need to absorb water through it. In floating plants it is more developed.

2. The leaves of the submerged plants have a ribbon shape so they do not break with water and do not have stomata. The leaves of the floating plants, on the other hand, have a large surface and have stomata to allow the entry and exit of gases and water.

3. The stems do not have supporting tissues because the water supports them. They do not have conductive vessels because they are surrounded by water and can absorb it.

 

 

The main adaptations of animals to the aquatic environment are:

 

1. They have adapted forms to move in the water.

2. Its density is very similar to that of water, so it is easier to move.Its density is very similar to that of water, so it is easier to move.

3. Some have a swim bladder to control the ascent and descent.

4. Respiratory system by gills or through the skin.

 

 

Adaptations to the terrestrial environment

 

Adaptations of plants to the terrestrial environment:

 

1. Very developed root.

2. System of conduction glasses that transport water and nutrients from the root to the rest of the plant.

3. The stomata of the leaves allow the exchange of gases with the atmosphere and the regulation of excess water.

4. Stem with supporting skeleton that allows the plant to stand upright.

5. Leaves prepared to capture the light energy of the Sun.

 

Adaptations of animals to the terrestrial environment:

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1. Waterproof outer structures that prevent drying.

2. Presence of a skeleton that allows the organism to remain upright.

3. Fertilization is internal to facilitate the union of gametes.

4. They have structures that allow them to move, since they have the need to move to find food.

5. The respiratory devices are internal.

6. Eggs protected with a waterproof shell to prevent desiccation.

 

 

In the shady and sunny areas there are differences between the plants that grow.

In the sunny are the sun affects most of the day and the water is scarce. For this reason, the vegetation has clear and narrow leaves and roots deep to capture as much water as possible.

The espartales and the tomillares dominate this space. We can find Lavender (Lavandula dentata), exclusive species from the Alicante area such as the Rabo de gato (Sideritis Leucantha and Sideritis chamaedrryfolia) and thyme as the scarce Cantahueso (Thymus moroderi).

In the shady areas of the mountains, a vegetation grows that almost never receives sunlight.

Here dominates a scrub associated with Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), composed of species

like the Palmito (Chamaerops humilis), the only palm tree native to continental Europe, the

Bayón (Osyris quadripartita), the Lentisco (Pistacia lentiscus), the White Jara (Cistus albidus), the

Heather (Erica multiflora) and some Coscoja (Quercus coccifera).

 

 

In the dune zone several vegetal communities of great interest settle, when harboring species that have an area of restricted distribution, such as the camariña, the spectacled grass (Biscutella montana), Teucrium hifacensis, the pomegranate of the Serra Gelada (Lynaria arabiniana). In order to preserve this fragile habitat to the maximum, the dune has a specific regulation to be able to transit through it.

 

The coastal front of the Serra Gelada is formed by imposing cliffs that rise up above 400 meters above sea level. They have their origin in the combined action of faults and marine erosion. These cliffs have unique plants that botanists call rupicolous, since they live on rocks with very little soil. Among these stands out the Silene de Ifach (Silene hifacensis), the only plant species in the Valencian Community that, due to its high risk of disappear, has a Recovery Plan that helps its conservation.

 

 

• And with regard to the sea, is there any differentiated zoning?

 

Due to the variations in depth within the Mediterranean Sea there is a vertical stratification of the different underwater habitats. This vertical stratification leads to classify the marine environment in different areas, which is called "Biological Zoning". Benthic communities are therefore distributed in parallel bands to the surface of the sea.

The Biological Zoning of the Mediterranean Sea is divided into 6 different bands:

 

•   Supralitoral zone: this area is practically never submerged. The organisms that live in this area need a continuous emersion and are species adapted to hard living conditions, mainly due to the lack of water, the strong insolation they receive and changes in salinity

• Mediolitoral zone: it presents species that tolerate a little prolonged immersion and never permanent dives.

• Infralittoral Zone: Its upper limit is therefore defined by organisms that require permanent immersion, while the lower limit is defined by the disappearance of marine phanerogams and photophilic algae.

• Circumittoral zone: the upper level of this zone is defined by the disappearance of marine phanerogams and photophilic algae, to the maximum depth in which unicellular algae can tolerate low lighting. The lower limit would be marked by the zone of light extinction.

• Batial Zone: The species of this zone are located in zones of strong slope of the continental slope and of connection with the abyssal plains.

• ​Abyssal Zone: includes the abyssal plains

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• What are the most representative species of the natural park?

 

Among the most important vegetation and flora species of this natural park are:

 

• “Palomilla”, the “Llunetes” or the Prickly Juniper, or the Corema album (Vegetation)

• “Rupicola”, the “Orelleta de Ratolí” or the “Canyeta d’or” (Flora)

• Rosemary, Many-flowered heather like “Erica multiflora”, Juniper and Esparto grass often accompanied by Aleppo Pines  and some specimens of Holm oak, rather small in size. (Thickets)

• Some scattered specimens of the Carob tree and Olive. These abandoned terraces have been colonised, amongst other species, by Kermes oaks, Lentisc and Blackthorn. (Old crops)

 

One of the plants of greatest ecological value is the seagrass known as Posidonia oceanica, which forms large underwater meadows of vital importance for the breeding and growth of numerous marine fauna.

 

Among the most important fauna species of this natural park are: 

 

• The bottlenose dolphin. (Aquatic)

• The Storm-petrel. (Terrestrial)

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• What is the importance of the Posidonia oceanica meadow?

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The Posidonia oceanica prairies have a very important role in the marine ecosystem:

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• They are the main producer of oxygen in the sea, like a lung in the Mediterranean.

• Constitute a fundamental area for reproduction, breeding, feeding and shelter of numerous species of marine fauna.

• They avoid the erosion of the coast and, therefore, the regression of the beaches, by attenuating the impact of the waves and retain the sediments.

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