Mediterranean karst springs are affected by strong climatic seasonality, with long, dry and hot summers and are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. In Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea, Italy), they are largely unexplored and their biocoenoses are mostly unknown. The diatom flora from two substrates (cobbles and macrophytes) in eight springs of different areas of the island was investi- gated in summer 2016 and winter 2017. A total of 162 diatom taxa (58 genera) were found of which 27 (17 genera) only on cobbles and 26 (18 genera) only on macrophytes. The most abundant species from both substrates were Achnanthidium minutissimum, Amphora indistincta, Amphora pediculus, Cocconeis euglypta, Planothidium frequentissimum and P. lanceolatum. Overall, 67 taxa (40 genera) were recorded in single sites and some of these taxa showed high affinity with specific environmental condi- tions. Hydrological stability (water flow permanence), discharge and nutrients were the main environ- mental factors influencing diatom assemblages. Our results suggest that diatoms can reflect important local factors related to the vulnerability of these spring ecosystems and underline the importance of their preservation both for biodiversity and water quality maintenance.

Mediterranean karst springs: diatom biodiversity hotspots under the pressure of hydrological fluctuation and nutrient enrichment / Lai, Giuseppina Grazia; Padedda, Bachisio Mario; Ector, Luc; Wetzel, Carlos Eduardo; Lugliè, Antonella; Cantonati, Marco. - In: PLANT BIOSYSTEMS. - ISSN 1126-3504. - (2019), pp. 1-12. [10.1080/11263504.2019.1674402]

Mediterranean karst springs: diatom biodiversity hotspots under the pressure of hydrological fluctuation and nutrient enrichment

Lai, Giuseppina Grazia;Padedda, Bachisio Mario
;
Lugliè, Antonella;
2019-01-01

Abstract

Mediterranean karst springs are affected by strong climatic seasonality, with long, dry and hot summers and are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures. In Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea, Italy), they are largely unexplored and their biocoenoses are mostly unknown. The diatom flora from two substrates (cobbles and macrophytes) in eight springs of different areas of the island was investi- gated in summer 2016 and winter 2017. A total of 162 diatom taxa (58 genera) were found of which 27 (17 genera) only on cobbles and 26 (18 genera) only on macrophytes. The most abundant species from both substrates were Achnanthidium minutissimum, Amphora indistincta, Amphora pediculus, Cocconeis euglypta, Planothidium frequentissimum and P. lanceolatum. Overall, 67 taxa (40 genera) were recorded in single sites and some of these taxa showed high affinity with specific environmental condi- tions. Hydrological stability (water flow permanence), discharge and nutrients were the main environ- mental factors influencing diatom assemblages. Our results suggest that diatoms can reflect important local factors related to the vulnerability of these spring ecosystems and underline the importance of their preservation both for biodiversity and water quality maintenance.
2019
Mediterranean karst springs: diatom biodiversity hotspots under the pressure of hydrological fluctuation and nutrient enrichment / Lai, Giuseppina Grazia; Padedda, Bachisio Mario; Ector, Luc; Wetzel, Carlos Eduardo; Lugliè, Antonella; Cantonati, Marco. - In: PLANT BIOSYSTEMS. - ISSN 1126-3504. - (2019), pp. 1-12. [10.1080/11263504.2019.1674402]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/228884
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 15
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 14
social impact