Macrobenthic community changes due to dystrophic events and freshwater inflow: Changes in space and time in a Mediterranean lagoon (Gialova lagoon, SW Greece)

Anthropogenic Changes in a Mediterranean Coastal Wetland during the Last Century—The Case of Gialova Lagoon, Messinia, Greece

“…Increased salinity values in the lagoon were also correlated to fishing yields [49] and benthic community distribution and status [10,15]. Dystrophic crises, documented in the lagoon during 1995-1996, have increased in size and duration during 1998-1999, after the opening of the freshwater inflow culverts [9], possibly due to decreased fresh water quality and quantity.…”

“…This embankment subdivided the wetland into a main lagoon area and neighbouring wetlands, and prevented the mixing of these two water bodies [8]. In 1998-1999, two culverts were constructed in the inner embankment to allow freshwater inputs to the main lagoon [9,10,15]. The present period starts after 1999-2000, when two sluice gates with a 1 m 2 cross section were constructed in the dykes of the two drainage canals to allow more fresh water into the wetland [17].…”

“…By comparing Equations (8) and (9), and based on the balance equation for the mass of salt (Equation (3)), it is reasonable to suggest that pre-intervention hydrologic conditions, compared to present, promoted outflows of saline water, decreasing the salinity and total salt mass in the wetland. Moreover, the opening of the sea/lagoon canal in 1976 and the absence of any surface freshwater inputs until 1998-1999, probably led to increasingly saline conditions in the wetland over the years.…”

“…Gialova Lagoon wetland (GLw), a coastal wetland located in Greece, is an example of a wetland area that, since the 1960s, has suffered from extensive drainage and the impact of other human activities [6][7][8]. These activities have resulted in severe environmental changes, leading to frequent dystrophic crises in the lagoon [9,10]. Several studies have focused on different physical and biological characteristics of the lagoon [1,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]].…”

“…These activities have resulted in severe environmental changes, leading to frequent dystrophic crises in the lagoon [9,10]. Several studies have focused on different physical and biological characteristics of the lagoon [1,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]]. Yet, considering the lagoon is part of a larger wetland that provides important aquatic habitats within a Natura 2000 site, previous studies have neglected the neighboring wetland area and its surroundings.…”