Far from early models exhibiting an overall uniformity of brackish-water benthic assemblages as monotonous biocoenoses (LEE, in the Pérès and Picard model) and a mono-factorial distinctness among basins simply based on salinity (Venice System), more recent studies have highlighted unexpected levels of environmental and biological heterogeneity of Transitional Water systems (TWs). In contrast to the large spectrum of environmental variability shown by the brackish biotopes, the Water Framework Directive requires the classification of the TWs into few ecosystem types. Thus, it is of primary importance to define the type-specific biological reference conditions in the operative process of assessing the ecological quality (EcoQ) of TWs, i.e. “to measure the health of the system compared to reference conditions” as the WFD reports. At present, three Macrotypes of TWs have been defined: two macrotypes for the tidal systems according to the salinity range variation and only one macrotype for the not-tidal systems. The aims of this study are: a) to update, harmonize and merge into a common dataset the faunistic data available for several Sardinian lagoons; b) to single out the environmental features explaining most of the variation in the macroinvertebrate quality indicators; c) to identify possible distinct units within the not-tidal macrotype which could be functional to the TW’s monitoring, management and conservation strategies. The TWs of Sardinia can be a pivotal case study at the regional level to address the above objectives since they cover a large range of environmental and biological conditions. This study represents a first joint effort conducted by major Sardinian Institutions (Universities and CNR) involved in the EcoQ assessment of TWs. It calls for a strong collaboration at the national level to increase efforts and resource availability, and to promote LaguNet at the Mediterranean and European scales.
Assessment of the ecological quality (EcoQ) of Sardinian lagoons: a joint effort using multiple benthic macroinvertebrate datasets / Gravina, Maria Flavia; Cabiddu, Serenella; Como, Serena; Floris, Antonello; Padedda, Bachisio Mario; Pusceddu, Antonio; Magni, Paolo. - (2016). (Intervento presentato al convegno X° Congresso Lagunet: Gli ambienti di transizione italiani e le aree adiacenti verso la Blue Economy. Stato delle conoscenze e prospettive tenutosi a Lesina (FG) nel 21-23 novembre 2016).
Assessment of the ecological quality (EcoQ) of Sardinian lagoons: a joint effort using multiple benthic macroinvertebrate datasets
FLORIS, Antonello;PADEDDA, Bachisio Mario;
2016-01-01
Abstract
Far from early models exhibiting an overall uniformity of brackish-water benthic assemblages as monotonous biocoenoses (LEE, in the Pérès and Picard model) and a mono-factorial distinctness among basins simply based on salinity (Venice System), more recent studies have highlighted unexpected levels of environmental and biological heterogeneity of Transitional Water systems (TWs). In contrast to the large spectrum of environmental variability shown by the brackish biotopes, the Water Framework Directive requires the classification of the TWs into few ecosystem types. Thus, it is of primary importance to define the type-specific biological reference conditions in the operative process of assessing the ecological quality (EcoQ) of TWs, i.e. “to measure the health of the system compared to reference conditions” as the WFD reports. At present, three Macrotypes of TWs have been defined: two macrotypes for the tidal systems according to the salinity range variation and only one macrotype for the not-tidal systems. The aims of this study are: a) to update, harmonize and merge into a common dataset the faunistic data available for several Sardinian lagoons; b) to single out the environmental features explaining most of the variation in the macroinvertebrate quality indicators; c) to identify possible distinct units within the not-tidal macrotype which could be functional to the TW’s monitoring, management and conservation strategies. The TWs of Sardinia can be a pivotal case study at the regional level to address the above objectives since they cover a large range of environmental and biological conditions. This study represents a first joint effort conducted by major Sardinian Institutions (Universities and CNR) involved in the EcoQ assessment of TWs. It calls for a strong collaboration at the national level to increase efforts and resource availability, and to promote LaguNet at the Mediterranean and European scales.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
