Recolonization and recovery dynamics of the macrozoobenthos after sand extraction in relict sand bottoms of the Northern Adriatic Sea

Simonini, Roberto; Ansaloni, Ivano; Bonini, P.; Grandi, Valentina; Graziosi, F.; Iotti, Mirko; N’Siala, Gloria Massamba; Mauri, Marina; Montanari, G.; Preti, M.; Nigris, Nunzio De; Prevedelli, Daniela

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2007.06.002

Cited by 28 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In such situations, recovery can be rapid: 24 to 30 mo in the North Adriatic, for example (Simonini et al 2007). As expected, the least sensitive habitats, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Recovery rates of UK seabed habitats after cessation of aggregate extraction

Foden¹,

Rogers²,

Jones³

2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Marine aggregate extraction and benthic fishing are the 2 largest causes of physical disturbance to the UK seabed. Aggregate dredging is a damaging but highly spatially heterogeneous pressure with a footprint <1% of bottom fishing (2001 to 2007). To understand the impacts of aggregate extraction, international literature was reviewed for recovery rates of the seabed following cessation of dredging in a range of habitats, hydrodynamic conditions and dredge intensities. Physical recovery (T Phys ) and biological recovery (T Bio ) were determined as the mean time-period for recovery to pre-dredge or reference site conditions. Recovery times were then estimated for marine landscapes targeted by the aggregate industry in UK waters. Maintenance dredging data were not included. Aggregate extraction affects 6% of estuarine areas and <1% of all other landscapes. Ninety-six percent of extraction occurred in sand or coarse sediment. Fifty percent targeted coarse sediment plains with moderate tidal stress, which had the longest period of T Phys (20 yr) and the second longest T Bio (8.7 yr). Shallow coarse sediments with weak tidal stress had the longest mean T Bio (10.75 yr), but 21% of the habitat supported high intensity dredging. The most intense dredging (> 90 h) was in estuaries, which have the shortest recovery times: T Phys 1.67 yr and T Bio 5.25 yr. At present, licensed areas do not appear to be located to avoid the most sensitive marine landscapes nor to target the least sensitive areas. Linking information on habitat recovery potential to marine landscapes and aggregate activity provides a practical tool for use in marine spatial management.

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“…In such situations, recovery can be rapid: 24 to 30 mo in the North Adriatic, for example (Simonini et al 2007). As expected, the least sensitive habitats, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Recovery rates of UK seabed habitats after cessation of aggregate extraction

Foden¹,

Rogers²,

Jones³

2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…As a consequence, the assemblages also exhibit considerable temporal variability in composition and density (Occhipinti‐Ambrogi et al. 2005; Simonini et al. 2005, 2007; Montanari & Pinardi 2006).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the ecological status of the North‐western Adriatic Sea within the European Water Framework Directive: a comparison of Bentix, AMBI and M‐AMBI methods

et al. 2009

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In this paper we looked for the most suitable method for benthic ecological quality status (EcoQS) assessment of the North-western Adriatic Sea. Taking into account the historical and present information, we inter-compared our expectations in terms of EcoQS, with the Bentix, AMBI and M-AMBI classificationmetrics results, and investigated the sensitivity of these indices to the spatial, seasonal and inter-annual variability of benthic communities. The sampling sites were located at increasing distances with respect to the Po Rivermouth, along an (inverse) gradient of eutrophication. Moreover, a 2-year monthly monitoring plan (October 2004–September 2006) was carried out at the CEBEB site, located in a central position with respect to the investigated area. The results highlighted that the three indices differed in the sensitivity to spatial and temporal variability of the benthic communities. The strong seasonaland inter-annual changes in the benthic communities had a significant effect on the Bentix, whereas no relevant modifications were observed on the EcoQS assignation obtained using the M-AMBI and AMBI methods. The environmentalquality ratios (EQR) values and EcoQS classification obtained by the Bentix and AMBI did not match expectations, as they were not inversely correlated with the site distances with respect to the Po mouth, whereas the M-AMBI clearly discriminated the most and the least eutrophicated sites. It thus appears that the M-AMBI could be considered to be the most valuable method for the ecological-status assessment of the North-western Adriatic Seabenthic ecosystem

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“…The storms driven by the NE and SE winds (Bora and Scirocco), that frequently occur in the Northern Adriatic Sea from December to late March, could cause a significant stress to the benthic ecosystem due to sediment re-suspension and sedimentation phenomenon (Matteucci and Frascari, 1997;Simonini et al, 2007). The storm intensity, estimated using the wave-height recorded at the AGIP (Azienda Generale Italiana Petroli) ''GaribaldiC/Cervia B" oil rig (2 km SE to CEBEB), was at a maximum between late autumn and early spring.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of a Northern Adriatic Ampelisca–Corbula community to seasonality and short-term hydrological changes in the Po river

N’Siala

Grandi

Iotti

et al. 2008

Marine Environmental Research

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During the 20th century, increased nutrient inflow has increased the frequency and intensity of eutrophication events in the North-western Adriatic Sea. More recently, evidence of a reduction in the Po river flow and a recovery of the benthic environment were reported. We examined the role played by Po river regime and seasonality in determining the temporal pattern of macrozoobenthos variation: samples were collected from a site located 10-12km off Cesenatico during two years from October 2004 to September 2006, when the mean Po discharge remained exceptionally low. 88 taxa were found, and the community was dominated by few species: Ampelisca diadema, Lumbrineris latreillii, Corbula gibba, Aricidea claudiae, Levinsenia gracilis and Nucula nucleus account for about 80% of total abundances. The density of these species exhibited a marked seasonal variability. Moreover, the total abundance and the density of the sensitive species, A. diadema, were negatively affected by several disturbance events (hypoxic conditions, frequent storms and an anomalous winter flood) that occurred between November 2005 and March 2006. The reduction of C. gibba and the increase of A. diadema densities observed in the investigated period, and verified recently by other authors could be related to the reduction in river inputs as a consequence of climatic changes.

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Recolonization and recovery dynamics of the macrozoobenthos after sand extraction in relict sand bottoms of the Northern Adriatic Sea

Cited by 28 publications

References 14 publications

Recovery rates of UK seabed habitats after cessation of aggregate extraction

Recovery rates of UK seabed habitats after cessation of aggregate extraction

Assessing the ecological status of the North‐western Adriatic Sea within the European Water Framework Directive: a comparison of Bentix, AMBI and M‐AMBI methods

Responses of a Northern Adriatic Ampelisca–Corbula community to seasonality and short-term hydrological changes in the Po river

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