Ecological conditions in the Orbetello Lagoon and suggested actions for its restoration

Bucci, Mario; Ghiara, E.; Gorelli, V.; Gragnani, R.; Izzo, G.; Morgana, J.G.; Naviglio, Lucia; Uccelli, Raffaella

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-89990-3.50101-2

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The Orbetello coastal lagoon (Central Tyrrhenian sea) was selected as study area due to the general scientific knowledge acquired from previous researches on geomorphologic, physico-chemical, biological aspects, and human-due pressures distribution [5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Study Area Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Pollution by Surfactants: Fluctuations Due to Tourism Exploitation in a Lagoon Ecosystem

Renzi

Giovani²,

Focardi³

2012

JEP

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This paper describes recent levels of surfactants measured in a coastal lagoon ecosystem highly stressed by human activites: the Orbetello lagoon (Southern Tuscany, Italy, Ramsar Site IT008). Significance of difference among concentrations measured before and after summertime are explored in order to evaluate effects related to tourism exploitation. Among surfactants, methylene blue active anionic substances (MBAS) are selected as tracers for untreated discharges originated by domestic and urban activities. Water samplings were performed in 2011 following a randomly replicated nested logic model (n = 144). MBAS mean level of 0.070 mg.L^–1 (<0.001 - 0.259 mg.L^–1) and 0.530 mg.L^–1 (–1) are respectively recorded in June and October evidencing a significant increase after the touristic season. Possible MBAS concentration phenomena could be induced by different evaportaton rates among sampling stations and between winter and summer seasons and were evaluated, in this study, using water salinity as possible factor affecting samples segregations. Results evidence that differences of MBAS levels related to evaporation rates are trascurabile if compared to the variability induced by the presence of not-collected wastewater hot-spot pollution sources located closed around the urban settlement and along sandbars. Measured levels of surfactants could act negatively on living organisms both animals and plants contributing to affect Orbetello lagoon biodiversity. In this ecosystem, after the complete reorganization of urban wastewater treatment plants occured in 2008, further management actions should be focalized on reducing untreated sources of MBAS

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Section: Study Area Featuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Pollution by Surfactants: Fluctuations Due to Tourism Exploitation in a Lagoon Ecosystem

Renzi

Giovani²,

Focardi³

2012

JEP

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“…In order to assess the ecological risk and the causal or correlative relationship between the health of organisms and environmental contaminant levels in a brackish environment, female specimens of a sentinel fish species, the grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus), were collected from three areas of a moderately human-impacted lagoon on the southern coast of Tuscany, the Orbetello lagoon. The Orbetello lagoon is a significant example of a brackish environment regardless of its small size, weak hydrodynamism and shallow waters, which limit exchange with seawater (Bucci et al, 1988;Innamorati, 1998). The nutrient enrichment of sediment and/or the retention of toxic compounds are mainly related to pollution, although there are few industrial activities carried out in the area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish as bioindicators of brackish ecosystem health: integrating biomarker responses and target pollutant concentrations

Corsi¹,

Mariottini²,

Sensini³

et al. 2003

Oceanologica Acta

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Biological responses and contaminant levels in biological tissues were investigated in fish specimens of grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus) collected in spring 2000 in a moderately polluted brackish ecosystem, the Orbetello lagoon (southern coast of Tuscany, Italy). The complexity of harmful effects that contaminants may cause in fish over time was assessed. General condition indices (somatic liver index, and gonadal somatic index), cytochrome P450 enzymes, acetylcholinesterase activity and ovarian morphology were integrated with the content of organochlorines (OCs-hexachlorobenzene, DDTs and polychlorinated biphenyls) in liver and ovaries and p-nonylphenol (NP) and lower ethoxylate (NPE 1-2) content in muscle and ovaries as well. Samples collected from the western basin of the lagoon near the Orbetello sewage treatment plant had somatic liver index values and two P450 activities significantly higher than those collected from the same basin at the Albegna river delta and in the Ansedonia canal in the eastern basin (P < 0.05). On the other hand, while muscle content of p-NP and NPE 1-2 was significantly higher in samples from the Orbetello and Albegna river sites than in samples from the Ansedonia canal site, OC levels in liver (DDTs > PCBs > HCB) were particularly lower in samples from STP compared to levels detected in sites AC and AR. Light microscopy of ovaries revealed that although the gonads were sexually mature, the diameter of the oocytes and eggs was smaller than that commonly reported. High levels of OCs and NPs were, in fact, observed in grass goby ovaries, and the differences observed between acetylcholinesterase activities among investigated sites suggest exposure to insecticides as well. The integration of biological responses and contaminant tissue content reveals that certain areas of the lagoon are selectively impacted by various human activities and helps in distinguishing relationships between biological responses and contaminant load in the lagoon environment.

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“…A recent study undertaken in the Ria Formosa Lagoon showed that the effect of fish farming activity was more intense in summer due to the higher loadings of dry feed added (Hubert et al 2006). Moreover, the organic matter decomposition rate is also higher during summer months, with a consequent increase in oxygen consumption and potential sediment reduction (Bucci et al 1992;Millet and Guelorget 1994). Hubert et al (2006) also found that the effects of effluents from semi-intensive production were more harmful than those from intensive production.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Benthic dynamics within a land-based semi-intensive aquaculture fish farm: the importance of settlement ponds

et al. 2008

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The present work aims to assess the importance of settlement ponds (SP) in semi-intensive fish farms by studying benthic dynamics in an aquaculture fish farm, more specifically in the water reservoir (WR) and SP and also in production (P) and nonproduction (C) ponds during a 16-month period. In Portugal, a SP is only mandatory for intensive fish farms, and another objective of the present study is to assess the importance of these areas in semi-intensive fish farms. The WR was the area with highest diversity and evenness, as well as the higher number of exclusive taxa and taxa sensitive to organic enrichment. P and SP samples showed signs of higher disturbance levels, emphasized namely by the association of the opportunistic annelids Capitella spp. and Tubificidae. However, the benthic data from SP points to lower disturbance levels than P both due to an increase in the percentage of sensitive taxa observed in June and October 2004 and by the association of this latter sample with water reservoir samples as evidenced by canonical correspondence analysis. Moreover, a higher and increasing number of taxa when compared with the P area were also observed. Therefore, in semi-intensive fish farms, where effluents from P ponds are directly discharged to the lagoon, the potential environmental impacts would be more severe. In conclusion, the imposition of SP in semi-intensive fish farms should be considered, especially because most fish farms are located within relevant wetland areas.

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Ecological conditions in the Orbetello Lagoon and suggested actions for its restoration

Cited by 8 publications

References 0 publications

Water Pollution by Surfactants: Fluctuations Due to Tourism Exploitation in a Lagoon Ecosystem

Water Pollution by Surfactants: Fluctuations Due to Tourism Exploitation in a Lagoon Ecosystem

Fish as bioindicators of brackish ecosystem health: integrating biomarker responses and target pollutant concentrations

Benthic dynamics within a land-based semi-intensive aquaculture fish farm: the importance of settlement ponds

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