A Comparative Approach to Detect Macrobenthic Response to the Conversion of an Inshore Mariculture Plant into an IMTA System in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea, Italy)

Abstract

The expected bioremediation effect, driven by the conversion of an inshore mariculture plant into an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, which could mitigate the fish farm impact, related to the accumulation of organic matter on the seabed, has been studied. The ecological quality status was studied following a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design and variation measured through M-AMBI and compared with the results of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance, to evaluate the sensitivity of the two methodologies. Results from M-AMBI indicated a sharp change in the ecological quality status, just after one year of the conversion of the plant. By contrast, although changes were detected also utilizing univariate and multivariate statistical analysis, the natural temporal variability characterizing the area partially masked evidence of environmental amelioration.

Non-indigenous polychaetes along the Salento Peninsula: new records and first molecular data

“…The species was previously known for the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Dağli & Çinar, 2009), reaching westwards to Malta (Katsanevakis et al, 2020). The present data together with those reported by Borghese et al (2023) suggests that it is expanding towards the western Mediterranean Sea.…”

“…Distribution in the study area. Reported for Taranto in organically enriched environments (Borghese et al, 2023). The present data allow us to extend the distribution of this species to the area of Santa Caterina di Nardò, in far less impacted environments.…”

“…All the other species were already known for the study area, even though some of them, such as Palola valida and Prionospio cf. depauperata, have been recorded only recently (Gravina et al, 2021;Borghese et al, 2023) and are not known outside of the Ionian Sea, which suggests that their westward expansion is relatively recent and still ongoing. Conversely, some species, such as Lumbrineris perkinsi and Branchiomma luctuosum have been known along the Salento Peninsula since the 1980s (Gherardi et al, 1985;Licciano & Giangrande, 2008), and are established in several of the sampled localities.…”

Invertebrate diversity associated with a shallow rhodolith bed in the Mediterranean Sea (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, south‐east Italy)

“…The gastropod Cerithium scabridum, already found along the Adriatic coasts of southern Italy (Albano & Trono, 2008) and in the Taranto area (Trono & Macrì, 2013), is a new report from Mar Piccolo. The polychaetes Lumbrineris perkins, Mediomastus capensis, Prionospio depauperata, and Prionospio pulchra, as well as the crustacean Mesanthura romulea, have been previously reported from the Mar Grande of Taranto (Gherardi & Lepore, 1981;Lorenti, Dappiano & Gambi, 2009;Borghese et al, 2023). Some non-indigenous species, such as the amphipod C. scaura, reported from Mar Piccolo since 2007 (Eleftheriou et al, 2011), have proven to be an important food source for seahorses at this site (Lazic et al, 2022).…”

Do Sustainably Reared Marine Sponges Represent A Potential New Product in Aquariology? A Citizen Science-Based Approach

“…In this sense, IMTA may increase revenues by up to 4% and reduce the natural and market risks of the aquaculture sector, making conversion from monoculture to polyculture a worthwhile undertaking [16]. On the other hand, this conversion has been shown to positively affect local benthic communities by promoting higher species recruitment that increases diversity and improves the ecological quality status of these systems, therefore reducing its environmental impact [17]. Marine ornamental aquaculture can play a crucial role in achieving a balance between economic viability and environmentally friendly practices.…”