By phylum

Mediterranean brown algae mainly colonise rocks and form habitats that provide support and shelter for many species.

Red algae often live at depth or in dimly lit areas and help form habitats rich in biodiversity.

Green algae grow using light and play an important role in oxygen production and at the base of the marine food chain.

Bryozoans are small, attached colonial animals that form calcareous or flexible structures providing shelter and support for many marine organisms.

Cnidarians include animals such as jellyfish, anemones and corals, characterised by stinging cells and playing an important role in marine ecosystems.

Crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimps, contribute to the balance of benthic ecosystems on the seabed.

Molluscs include animals such as shellfish, sea snails and octopuses, found in many habitats and essential to the functioning of marine ecosystems.

Macroplankton comprises large planktonic organisms, visible to the naked eye, that drift with currents and play a key role in marine food webs.

Marine flowering plants, such as Cymodocea and Posidonia, form essential seagrass meadows that oxygenate the water, stabilise the seabed and shelter many species.

Benthic fish live in direct contact with the seabed, on or in sand and rocks, with which they are closely associated.

Demersal fish live near the seabed without depending on it directly, moving through the water layer close to the substrate.

Pelagic fish live in open water and move in schools, playing an essential role in energy transfer within marine ecosystems.

Tunicates are marine filter-feeding animals, often attached, that contribute to recycling organic matter and the functioning of coastal ecosystems.

Marine worms live in the seabed, sediments or on rocks and actively contribute to recycling organic matter and maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems.

Echinoderms, such as starfish and sea urchins, live on the seabed and actively contribute to the balance of benthic ecosystems.

Sponges are simple, attached animals that filter water to feed, contributing to the quality of the marine environment and seabed biodiversity.