This study forms part of the Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Vegetation in the Mediterranean Sea (United Nation Environmental Program). It was carried out in June 2000 in the Farwà Lagoon, Libya. The mapping of the main benthic vegetation was achieved by compiling the field observations (transect method), and remote sensing of SPOT satellite images. The phytobenthos in the Farwà lagoon covers an area of 1820 ha (65%). Three benthic macrophyte species dominate, namely the marine phanerogams Cymodocea nodosa and Posidonia oceanica, and the alga Caulerpa prolifera.
Dead Posidonia oceanica leaves (litter) form veritable mounds in the vicinity of the openings leading to open sea. These leaves, which come from the coastal sea, are brought into the lagoon by currents and tides; their decomposition will lead to high oxygen consumption and the release of hydrogen sulphide.
The phenological data of Posidonia oceanica shoots sampled in the lagoon are similar to those from other stations in the Mediterranean.
Conversely, the lepidochronological parameters of shoots sampled in the central part of the lagoon exhibit values that are substantially higher than those generally recorded in the Mediterranean. The mean number of leaves produced annually is 9.9 (mean value for the Mediterranean: 7.5) and the rhizome growth rate is of 35.7 mm.yr−1 (mean value for the Mediterranean: 7.5 mm.yr−1). This hypersaline environment would seem to provide optimum growth conditions for the species Posidonia oceanica.
