Recovery of the macrobenthic community in the Valli di Comacchio,northern Adriatic Sea,Italy |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy;2. A.R.P.A., C.so Giovecca 169, 44100 Ferrara, Italy;1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell?Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via T. Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italia;2. The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway;3. GRC Geociències Marines, Departament d’Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;4. CEFREM, UMR CNRS 5110, CNRS-Univ. Perpignan, Perpignan, France;5. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale I, Napoli, Italia;1. Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA;2. Danube Research Institute, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Budapest, Hungary;1. Normandie Université UNICAEN, UMR BOREA (MNHN, UPMC, CNRS-7208, IRD-207), CS 14032, Caen, France;2. Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;3. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR EME 212, Centre de Recherche Halieutique Méditerranéenne et Tropicale, Avenue Jean Monnet, BP 171, 34203 Sète cedex, France;4. Ecopath International Initiative Research Association, Barcelona, Spain;1. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), Arsenale – Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venice, Italy;2. Greensea scarl, Via Zannier 18, 30025 Fossalta di Portogruaro, Italy;3. Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Castello 4665, 30122 Venice, Italy;4. University IUAV of Venice, Venice 30123, Italy;5. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto per l''Ambiente Marino Costiero (CNR-IAMC), Località Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09170 Oristano, Italy |
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| Abstract: | The macrobenthic community structure of the Valli di Comacchio (northern Italy) was described in order to assess the ecological conditions of the main basins through 2001. In addition, the biotic data set gathered in 1997–1998 was compared to achieve an estimation of the eventual recovery of the lagoonal benthic assemblages. Four permanent sites (P1, M4, M5 and M6), located along a gradient of sediment texture and confinement, and representing four different areas of the lagoon, were sampled quarterly in 2001 for macrofauna and sedimentary variables (organic content, phytobenthic chlorophyll-a, depth of the redox potential discontinuity layer), and fortnightly for water variables (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and planktonic chlorophyll-a). Water and sedimentary variables were typical of eutrophic areas. A total of 52 macrobenthic taxa were identified and, on the basis of the species collected, differences in faunal distribution among the four areas were recognized, although less marked than in previous studies. Sediment trophic status and its seasonal dynamics in the Valli were crucial in determining species distribution among the different areas. The comparison between 1997–1998 and 2001 biotic data indicated that conditions in the lagoon had improved, especially in the formerly most impaired, central area. In the Valli di Comacchio, the recovery of benthic communities after severe disturbance will probably take longer, even if sewage discharges have been removed 11 years ago. Secondary disturbance due to scarce water circulation, sharp temperature and salinity fluctuations, release of toxic substances from sediments influenced animal assemblages along spatial and temporal scales. The interplay of these variables probably caused deviations from the expected improvement in benthic conditions. Nevertheless, clear signs of amelioration, particularly at the previously most impaired area, were detectable. |
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