@article {321,
	title = {Are the Meditterranean waters becoming warmer? Information from biological indicators},
	journal = {Marine Pollution Bulletin},
	year = {1994},
	abstract = {<p>Important changes described in the marine littoral zones throughout the world are attributed to short term phenomena such as marine pollution. Recently, a few authors have emphasized medium to long-term modifications of the ocean conditions (Mearns, 1988). Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other infrared absorbing gases are widely proposed as a mechanism of global surface warming over the next several decades (Ausubel, 1983). Over the past 20-30 years, a significant increase in the average temperature of the waters of the western Mediterranean basin has been observed: between 1973 and 1987, an increase of 0.4{\textdegree}C at 80 m depth (Pascual, pers. comm.), and between 1959 and 1989, an increase of 0.12{\textdegree}C under 400 m (Bethoux et al., 1990). Similar observations have been made in the other ocean basins (Bindoff \& Church, 1992). In view of our present-day knowledge of the shallow waters of the Mediterranean, we can only put forward a model-based assumption of temperature increase (Bethoux et al., 1990). Winds, currents and albedo can strongly induce variations of the surface temperature (lvanoff, 1972) but physical measurements cannot demonstrate a significant mean temperature increase at present, even if it exists. However, the possibility of an increase is suggested by the marine flora and fauna which integrate medium-term changes in ambient conditions (Soule \& Keppel, 1988). Unusual occurrences in marine life may also be used as indicators of changing ocean conditions (Mearns, 1988).</p>},
	keywords = {biological indicator, climate change, fauna, flora, France, Golfe du Lion, Ile de Port-Cros, littoral, long-term monitoring, Mediterranean sea, M{\'e}diterran{\'e}e nord-occidentale, M{\'e}diterrann{\'e}e occidentale, Mer M{\'e}diterran{\'e}e, north-western Mediterranean, ocean, pollution, Port-Cros Island, Provence, r{\'e}chauffement, Scandola, sea water temperature, shallow water, temperature, temp{\'e}rature de l{\textquoteright}eau de mer, warming, western Mediterranean, wind},
	author = {P. Francour and M.L.. Harmelin-Vivi and J.G. Harmelin and C.F. Boudouresque and J.P. Quignard}
}
