Note: Intro -- Acknowledgments to the Reviewers -- Contents -- About the Editors -- Chapter 1: Introduction: Thinking the Future from Now -- 1.1 Why a Book on the Alboran Sea? -- 1.2 Thinking the Future from Now -- 1.2.1 Oceanographic, Geological, and Ecological Contexts -- 1.2.2 Biodiversity and Ecosystems Distribution -- 1.2.3 Fisheries Resources and Aquaculture -- 1.2.4 Conservation, Management, and Marine Policies -- 1.3 The Future We Wish: Final Remarks -- References -- Chapter 2: Regional Context and Maritime Governance -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Political Geography of the Region -- 2.2.1 The Regional Context -- 2.2.2 Countries and Territories: Geopolitical and Socio-economic Information -- 2.2.3 The Alboran Sea and the Maritime Economy -- 2.3 Alboran Sea: Law of the Sea and Jurisdictional Issues -- 2.3.1 The Alboran Sea in the Context of UNCLOS -- 2.3.2 States and Their Maritime Jurisdictions -- 2.3.2.1 Moroccan Legislation -- 2.3.2.2 Spanish Legislation -- 2.3.2.3 Algerian Legislation -- 2.3.2.4 Gibraltar Legislation -- 2.3.3 Maritime Borders and Disputes -- 2.4 Maritime Governance and Cross-Border Cooperation -- 2.4.1 Background -- 2.4.2 Legal-Institutional Framework -- References -- Legal Documents -- Chapter 3: Alboran Sea Area Climate and Weather -- 3.1 The Climate of the Alboran Area -- 3.1.1 Precipitation -- 3.1.2 Winds -- 3.1.3 Aerosols -- 3.1.4 Temperature -- 3.1.5 Climate Trends and Climate Change -- 3.2 Large Scale and Synoptic Systems in the North Atlantic-European Sector -- 3.2.1 Large-Scale Circulation -- 3.2.2 Synoptic Systems -- 3.2.3 Mediterranean Cyclones -- 3.2.4 Euro-Atlantic Weather Regimes -- References -- Chapter 4: The Oceanographic and Climatic Context -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Climatic Forcing, Water Mass Formation Processes and Thermohaline Circulation in the Mediterranean Sea -- 4.3 Water Masses in the Alboran Sea. , 4.4 Currents and Circulation in the Alboran Sea -- 4.5 Tidal Currents -- 4.6 The Upper Layer Circulation -- 4.7 Intermediate and Deep Water Circulation -- 4.8 Long-Term Variability -- 4.9 Summary and Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 5: A Geological History for the Alboran Sea Region -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Plate Tectonic Settings: Evolution of the African-Eurasian Plate Boundary -- 5.3 Current Africa-Eurasia Tectonics -- 5.3.1 Western Mediterranean -- 5.3.2 Evolutive Models -- 5.3.3 Magmatism -- 5.4 The Alboran Basin -- 5.4.1 Input from Potential Field Data -- 5.4.2 Basement Configuration and Major Structure -- 5.4.3 Tecto-Sedimentary Evolution -- 5.5 Miocene -- 5.6 The Opening of the Strait of Gibraltar -- 5.7 Pliocene-Quaternary -- 5.8 Conclusions: Paleogeographic Implications -- References -- Chapter 6: Seafloor Morphology and Processes in the Alboran Sea -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Setting -- 6.2.1 Geographical and Geological Settings -- 6.2.2 Oceanographic Settings -- 6.3 Method -- 6.3.1 Datasets -- 6.3.2 Data Analysis -- 6.4 Physiography -- 6.5 Geomorphology -- 6.5.1 Shelf Features -- 6.5.1.1 Depositional Features -- 6.5.1.2 Erosive Features -- 6.5.1.3 Gravitational Features -- 6.5.1.4 Anthropogenic Features -- 6.5.2 Deep-Sea Features -- 6.5.2.1 Tectonic Features -- 6.5.2.2 Seamounts -- 6.5.2.3 Features Related to Fluid Outflow -- 6.5.2.4 Contourite Features -- 6.5.2.5 Mass-Movement Features -- 6.5.2.6 Biogenic Features -- 6.5.3 Recent Sediments: Facies Model -- 6.6 Discussion -- 6.6.1 Active Tectonics -- 6.6.2 The Key Role of Alboran Sea Seafloor Morphology in Characterising Sediment Dynamics -- 6.6.2.1 Sediment Dynamics on the Proximal Continental Margin -- 6.6.2.2 Sediment Dynamics on the Distal Continental Margin -- 6.6.3 Geohazards in the Alboran Sea -- 6.6.4 Contribution of Geology to Habitat Knowledge -- 6.7 Conclusions. , References -- Chapter 7: The Biogeochemical Context of Marine Planktonic Ecosystems -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.1.1 Biogeochemistry and Phytoplankton Productivity of the Alboran Sea -- 7.2 Nutrients Dynamics: Coupling with Physical Processes -- 7.2.1 Nutrients and Water Masses in the Alboran Sea -- 7.2.2 Fertilization Mechanisms: Sources of New Nutrients to the Photic Layer -- 7.2.3 Distribution Patterns of Inorganic Nutrients (N, P, and Si) -- 7.2.4 Nutrient Molar Ratios: N or P Limitation? -- 7.3 Phytoplankton Productivity: Coupling Between Physical, Biogeochemical, and Biological Features -- 7.3.1 Distribution Patterns of Chlorophyll-a and Primary Production from In Situ Data -- 7.3.2 Distribution Patterns of Chlorophyll-a and Primary Production from Satellite Derived Data Models -- 7.3.2.1 Sea Surface Chlorophyll-a Concentration from Satellite Data -- 7.3.2.2 Primary Production from Satellite Data -- 7.4 Future Scenarios in the Framework of a Changing Climate -- 7.4.1 Analyzing the Possible Effects of Climate Change on Water Circulation, Nutrients, and Primary Productivity in the Medite... -- References -- Chapter 8: Seaweeds and Seagrasses: The Marine Forests from the Alboran Sea -- 8.1 Seaweeds and Seagrasses: Taxonomical Approach and Ecological Role -- 8.2 Origin and History of the Seaweeds and Seagrasses from the Alboran Sea -- 8.3 Biodiversity of the Benthic Flora from the Alboran Sea: Present Knowledge -- 8.4 Seaweed and Seagrass Communities in the Alboran Sea -- 8.4.1 Supralittoral Zone -- 8.4.2 Eulittoral Zone -- 8.4.3 Infralittoral Zone -- 8.4.4 Circalittoral Zone -- 8.5 Critical Locations for Marine Vegetation Biodiversity and Conservation in the Alboran Sea -- 8.6 Future Directions in Management and Conservation Biology of Seaweeds and Seagrasses in the Alboran Sea -- 8.7 Main Threat to the Benthic Flora of the Alboran Sea -- References. , Chapter 9: Benthic Fauna of Littoral and Deep-Sea Habitats of the Alboran Sea: A Hotspot of Biodiversity -- 9.1 Historical Exploration of Habitats and Their Associated Benthic Communities in the Alboran Sea -- 9.1.1 Ship-Based Exploration -- 9.1.2 Shore-Based Studies -- 9.2 Supralittoral and Intertidal Communities -- 9.2.1 Supralittoral Rocky Shore -- 9.2.2 Supralittoral Boulders -- 9.2.3 Midlittoral Rocky Shore -- 9.2.4 Supra- and Midlittoral Sedimentary Substrates -- 9.3 Coastal Lagoons -- 9.4 Hard-Bottom Communities of the Continental Shelf -- 9.4.1 Communities of Photophilous Macroalgae -- 9.4.2 Posidonia oceanica -- 9.4.3 Kelp Forests -- 9.4.4 Infralittoral Hard Bottoms Dominated by Sessile Invertebrates -- 9.4.5 Circalittoral Hard Bottoms with Coralligenous Communities -- 9.5 Caves -- 9.6 Soft-Bottom Communities of the Continental Shelf -- 9.6.1 Well-Sorted Fine Sand -- 9.6.2 Vegetated Infralittoral Soft Bottoms -- 9.6.2.1 Zostera marina Meadows -- 9.6.2.2 Cymodocea nodosa Meadows -- 9.6.2.3 Caulerpa prolifera Meadows -- 9.6.3 Bioclastic Sands and Gravels -- 9.6.4 ``Maërl´´/Rhodolith Beds -- 9.6.5 Coastal Terrigenous Mud -- 9.7 Deep-Sea Communities -- 9.7.1 Bathyal Hard Bottoms -- 9.7.2 Bathyal Soft Bottoms -- 9.7.3 Cold Seeps -- 9.8 Gaps of Knowledge and Further Steps -- References -- Chapter 10: Invertebrates: The Realm of Diversity -- 10.1 Emblematic Species -- 10.1.1 Patella ferruginea -- 10.1.2 Ellisella paraplexauroides -- 10.1.3 Astroides calycularis -- 10.2 Rare Species -- 10.2.1 Porifera -- 10.2.2 Cnidaria -- 10.2.3 Nemertea -- 10.2.4 Meiofauna (Gastrotricha, Kinorhyncha, Tardigrada) -- 10.2.5 Cycliophora -- 10.2.6 Entoprocta -- 10.2.7 Polychaeta -- 10.2.8 Crustacea -- 10.2.9 Bryozoa -- 10.2.10 Echinodermata -- 10.3 Habitat-Forming Species -- 10.3.1 Sponges -- 10.3.2 Gorgonians -- 10.3.3 Red Coral -- 10.3.4 Black Corals. , 10.3.5 Sea Pens -- 10.3.6 Deep Reef-Building Corals -- 10.3.7 Deep-Sea Oysters -- 10.4 The Invertebrates of the Water Column -- 10.4.1 Planktonic Invertebrates -- 10.4.2 Nektonic Invertebrates -- 10.5 Threatened Species -- 10.6 Species Originally Described from the Alboran Sea -- 10.7 Mass Mortality Events -- 10.8 Some Aims for Present and Future Research -- References -- Chapter 11: Biogeographical and Macroecological Context of the Alboran Sea -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Historical Biogeography: Where Do the Biota of the Alboran Sea Come From? -- 11.3 The Alboran Sea as a Biogeographical Entity -- 11.4 Patterns of Distribution of Species -- 11.5 Species Richness -- 11.6 Macroecological Patterns and Processes -- 11.7 Alien Species -- References -- Chapter 12: Biophysical Processes Determining the Connectivity of the Alboran Sea Fish Populations -- 12.1 A Short Review on Connectivity Issues -- 12.2 Hydrodynamic Connectivity and the Alboran Sea Circulation -- 12.2.1 Mean Circulation Pattern and Mesoscale and Seasonal Variability -- 12.2.2 Short-term Variability: Instabilities -- 12.3 The Zonal (East-to-West) Connectivity -- 12.3.1 Interbasin Connectivity: Gulf of Cadiz-Alboran Sea -- 12.3.2 Intra-basin Along Shore Connectivity -- 12.4 The Meridional (North-to-South) Connectivity -- 12.4.1 The Atlantic Jet: a Hydrodynamic Barrier -- 12.4.2 Physical Processes to Overcome the Barrier -- 12.4.3 Role of Topography: Conveyor and Obstacle for the Connectivity -- 12.5 Species Life History Effects and Constraints in the Connectivity Processes -- 12.5.1 Influence of Hydrographic Patterns at Early Life Stages of Fish -- 12.5.2 Pelagic Larval Duration and Dispersal -- 12.5.3 Depth Distribution and Vertical Migration -- 12.5.4 Spawning Phenology and Vital Rates -- 12.6 Implications on the Populations and Ecosystems of the Alboran Sea -- References. , Chapter 13: Evolving from Fry Fisheries to Early Life Research on Pelagic Fish Resources.