The need for taxonomic expertise in protecting Mauritania's marine ecosystems and biological resources

Abstract

Seasonal upwelling events have a significant impact on the Mauritanian waters, which are a component of the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME). These events frequently provide nutrient-rich waters to Mauritania's coastal waters. This influx of nutrients supports some of the most productive fish stocks in the Atlantic and sustains the development of a rich and diverse marine biodiversity. Despite its ecological and economic importance, a significant part of Mauritania's marine fauna remains insufficiently investigated, with significant taxonomic gaps spanning over a variety of taxa. A comprehensive understanding of regional biodiversity is essential for the implementation of sustainable fisheries management and the effective protection of marine ecosystems. Such understanding depends on accurate taxonomic knowledge, which forms the basis for assessing species distributions, ecological interactions and trophic networks. This review provides a synthesis of past research initiatives and campaigns conducted along the Mauritanian coast and identifies key coastal ecosystems of particular ecological relevance. It further highlights current gaps in taxonomic knowledge and points out the importance of an integrative approach to biodiversity research that combines classical morphological taxonomy with modern genetic species identification techniques. Additionally, the review advocates for the establishment and maintenance of a scientific reference collection of the Mauritanian marine fauna as a foundational resource for ongoing and future biodiversity assessments. Ultimately, this article proposes an integrative and interdisciplinary biodiversity research strategy for Mauritania's unique marine environment, thereby contributing to long-term conservation efforts and the sustainable use of marine resources at times of climate change and overexploitation of biological resources.

Keywords: Biodiversity assessment; DNA barcoding; Marine biodiversity; Nature conservation; Northwest Africa; Scientific collections; Taxonomy.