Italy is the third largest European producer of edible molluscs bivalves, after Spain and France. In Sardinia, which is one of the major producer amongst Italian regions, mussel farming occupies a prominent position, with relevant economic and social interests. The mussel farms are mainly located in coastal and lagoon areas of the provinces of Oristano, Cagliari, Olbia-Tempio and Ogliastra. The management of these areas is strictly dependent on the water quality, guaranteed by a constant monitoring program, required by European legislation (2004/853/EC). It includes the warning detection of potentially harmful algal species (HAS) which can affect human health through the consumption of seafood products. Anyway, these programs are not finalized in the understanding of the patterns of the blooms and of the causes of the arising of the harmful events. In this study, we analyse multiannual data on the geografical distribution and abundance of potentially HAS in 18 Sardinian mussel farming sites. The data mainly derive from Regional monitoring activities. Mann-Kendall test was performed to detect significant multiannual trends in the abundances of the main harmful species. The results showed the constant detection of HAS (in particular Pseudonitzschia spp., present at all the considered areas during all periods of the year) and the detection of a high numbers of harmful Dinophyceae, mainly belonging to the genera Dinophysis. Moreover, the detection of Alexandrium catenella e A. minutum in mussel farming in Olbia and Oristano areas has occurred, respectively, since 2002 and 2006, causing eight cases of PSP positivities events, always in coincidence of modest abundances of the involved species. Statistical analysis showed the temporal increasing trend of Pseudonitzschia spp., Dinophysis acuminata, Prorocentrum lima and P. mexicanum in some study areas, while A. catenella, D. fortii, Dinophysis sp. and Prorocentrum sp. decreased significantly during the considered period in different areas. Other species (e.g. A. minutum, Alexandrium sp. and D. sacculus) increased in some areas and decreased in others during the analysed period. The results highlight as the systematic controls operated in shellfish farming areas can contribute to the general topic on the expansion of toxic algae. Specifically, it can help in identifying on the species which are showing trends in increasing or decreasing in a specific geographical area, helping to find most suitable management practices.

Distribution and multiannual trends of potentially toxic microalgae in shellfish farm areas along the Sardinian coast / Anna Maria Bazzoni, ; Tiziana, Caddeo; Pulina, Silvia; Satta, Cecilia Teodora; Padedda, Bachisio Mario; Sechi, Nicola; Lugliè, Antonella Gesuina Laura. - (2013). (Intervento presentato al convegno RIUNIONE GRUPPO DI ALGOLOGIA, Società Botanica Italiana).

Distribution and multiannual trends of potentially toxic microalgae in shellfish farm areas along the Sardinian coast

Silvia Pulina;SATTA, Cecilia Teodora;PADEDDA, Bachisio Mario;SECHI, Nicola;LUGLIÈ, Antonella Gesuina Laura
2013-01-01

Abstract

Italy is the third largest European producer of edible molluscs bivalves, after Spain and France. In Sardinia, which is one of the major producer amongst Italian regions, mussel farming occupies a prominent position, with relevant economic and social interests. The mussel farms are mainly located in coastal and lagoon areas of the provinces of Oristano, Cagliari, Olbia-Tempio and Ogliastra. The management of these areas is strictly dependent on the water quality, guaranteed by a constant monitoring program, required by European legislation (2004/853/EC). It includes the warning detection of potentially harmful algal species (HAS) which can affect human health through the consumption of seafood products. Anyway, these programs are not finalized in the understanding of the patterns of the blooms and of the causes of the arising of the harmful events. In this study, we analyse multiannual data on the geografical distribution and abundance of potentially HAS in 18 Sardinian mussel farming sites. The data mainly derive from Regional monitoring activities. Mann-Kendall test was performed to detect significant multiannual trends in the abundances of the main harmful species. The results showed the constant detection of HAS (in particular Pseudonitzschia spp., present at all the considered areas during all periods of the year) and the detection of a high numbers of harmful Dinophyceae, mainly belonging to the genera Dinophysis. Moreover, the detection of Alexandrium catenella e A. minutum in mussel farming in Olbia and Oristano areas has occurred, respectively, since 2002 and 2006, causing eight cases of PSP positivities events, always in coincidence of modest abundances of the involved species. Statistical analysis showed the temporal increasing trend of Pseudonitzschia spp., Dinophysis acuminata, Prorocentrum lima and P. mexicanum in some study areas, while A. catenella, D. fortii, Dinophysis sp. and Prorocentrum sp. decreased significantly during the considered period in different areas. Other species (e.g. A. minutum, Alexandrium sp. and D. sacculus) increased in some areas and decreased in others during the analysed period. The results highlight as the systematic controls operated in shellfish farming areas can contribute to the general topic on the expansion of toxic algae. Specifically, it can help in identifying on the species which are showing trends in increasing or decreasing in a specific geographical area, helping to find most suitable management practices.
2013
Distribution and multiannual trends of potentially toxic microalgae in shellfish farm areas along the Sardinian coast / Anna Maria Bazzoni, ; Tiziana, Caddeo; Pulina, Silvia; Satta, Cecilia Teodora; Padedda, Bachisio Mario; Sechi, Nicola; Lugliè, Antonella Gesuina Laura. - (2013). (Intervento presentato al convegno RIUNIONE GRUPPO DI ALGOLOGIA, Società Botanica Italiana).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/55697
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