Effectiveness of Posidonia oceanica biotic indices for assessing the ecological status of coastal waters in Saronikos Gulf (Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean)

Biotic indices are considered key assessment tools in most national and European policies aimed at improving the quality of coastal waters. At present, several Water Framework Directive (WFD)-compliant biotic indices based on the marine angiosperm Posidonia oceanica have been developed and applied in the Mediterranean Sea. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of four different P. oceanica indices (POMI, PREI, Valencian CS, and BiPo) in evaluating the ecological status of coastal waters in a case study area of Greece. The evaluation, comparison, and validation of the Ecological Status Class (ESC) assessments obtained by each index were based on a set of eight common sites that encompasses the maximum range of environmental quality in the study area. Four sampling sites separated by tens of km were chosen in each of the two water bodies (WBs) studied. The spatial variations of the features of P. oceanica meadows were examined according to a hierarchical sampling design across four spatial scales, ranging from metres to tens of km, using independent nested analysis of variance. Except for the BiPo index, the reference values for each metric/index were defined by the dataset available for the study area. All biotic indices classified the WBs of the study area in Good ESC category. Only three of the four indices (PREI, Valencian CS, and BiPo) showed high comparability in the assessment of ESC at study site level. It is assumed that the differences found in the remaining index (POMI) are due to the different type of metrics taken into consideration and the different weighting given to them. Our findings suggest that all indices can provide an overall view of the cumulative impact of multiple environmental stressors existing in the study area, and can thus help raise awareness of ecosystem degradation.

Download Full-text

Soft-bottom sipunculans in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2136.1.3 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2136 (1) ◽

pp. 40-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

SERMIN AÇIK

Keyword(s):

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Aegean Sea ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Soft Bottom ◽

Muddy Sand ◽

Izmir Bay ◽

Ecological Characteristics

This paper deals with the sipunculan species distributed in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean). Benthic samples were taken at 29 stations between 1998 and 2001 at depths ranging from 8 to 77 m. Six species and 200 individuals belonging to three families were found. Aspidosiphon (A.) mexicanus is newly recorded from Izmir Bay. The majority of specimens were found on a sandy-mud substratum (42%), followed by sand (35%), muddy-sand (19%) and sand (3%), respectively. Among the habitats, Posidonia oceanica and muddy-sand were represented by the highest numbers of species (4 species), followed by sandy-mud (3 species), and sand (2 species). The densities of the species at sampling stations were determined and compared seasonally, based on the data collected in 2001. Brief descriptions of the species and their distributional, reproductive and ecological characteristics are given.

Download Full-text

Seagrass of Vasiliko Bay, Eastern Mediterranean: Lost Cause or Priority Conservation Habitat?

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse8090717 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 717

Author(s):

Demetris Kletou ◽

Periklis Kleitou ◽

Ioannis Savva ◽

Martin J. Attrill ◽

Stephanos Charalambous ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Area ◽

Multiple Stressors ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Fish Farming ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Shoot Density ◽

Fish Farms ◽

Leaf Surface Area ◽

Marine Fish Farming

Mediterranean coasts are affected by multiple mounting pressures. In Cyprus, marine fish farming has grown rapidly in the past decade and is concentrated in the west side of Vasiliko Bay. The east coast of this bay has ports, a power station, a desalination unit, a cement factory, a major new oil terminal, and gas storage facilities. The bay is earmarked to create the largest hydrocarbon processing, storing, and transport facility in the region. Here, we assess the status of Posidonia oceanica habitat in an understudied region at the upper thermal, and eastern limit, of this Mediterranean endemic seagrass. An extensive ancient seagrass meadow was revealed, covering about 200 ha across 10 km of coastline, over soft substrata at ca 10–30 m depth, and over hard substrata at ca 0–6 m depth. Seagrass shoot density and leaf surface area decreased, both with increasing depth and with proximity to industrial developments; part of the meadow had been destroyed by dredging to build a jetty. Close to fish farms the seagrass had higher epiphytic biomass as well as lower leaf number, mass, and surface area, all of which indicate adverse effects of eutrophication and increased turbidity. Despite these multiple stressors, most of the meadow was in good ecological status, with some of the highest shoot densities ever reported. Furthermore, iconic species like sea turtles, monk seals, and dolphins were seen during sampling. Posidonia oceanica meadows off Cyprus are among the most valuable in the Mediterranean due to their tolerance of high seawater temperatures. Managers of future coastal developments in the region will need to adhere to European legislation and international conventions designed to secure the socioeconomic benefits of seagrass beds.

Download Full-text

First records of six species of crustaceans for the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-00003953 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 92 (11-12) ◽

pp. 1403-1414

Author(s):

Ozge Ozgen ◽

Sermin Acik ◽

Kerem Bakir

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Sea ◽

New Record ◽

New Records ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Aegean Sea ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

The Other ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽

Crustacean Species ◽

Ecological Characteristics

Abstract This paper deals with six crustacean species associated with Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile, 1813 meadows along the Aegean coasts of Turkey: Caprella tavolarensis, Eriopisella ruffoi, Iphimedia vicina, Astacilla mediterranea, Apseudopsis minimus and Macropodia deflexa. Apseudopsis minimus is a new record for the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea, the other five species are new records for the eastern Mediterranean. Brief descriptions of the species and their morphological and ecological characteristics are given.

Download Full-text

A multivariate index based on the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (POMI) to assess ecological status of coastal waters under the water framework directive (WFD)

Marine Pollution Bulletin ◽

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.08.032 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (1-6) ◽

pp. 196-204 ◽

Cited By ~ 116

Author(s):

Javier Romero ◽

Begoña Martínez-Crego ◽

Teresa Alcoverro ◽

Marta Pérez

Keyword(s):

Water Framework Directive ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Posidonia Oceanica

Download Full-text

Mesozooplankton stable isotope composition in Cyprus coastal waters and comparison with the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean)

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science ◽

10.1016/j.ecss.2014.12.009 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 154 ◽

pp. 12-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Cecelia C.S. Hannides ◽

Soultana Zervoudaki ◽

Constantin Frangoulis ◽

Manfred A. Lange

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Isotope Composition ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Aegean Sea ◽

Stable Isotope Composition

Download Full-text

Descriptors from Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows in coastal waters of Valencia, Spain, in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsn146 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 65 (8) ◽

pp. 1492-1497 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada ◽

Marta Díaz-Valdés ◽

Francisco Colilla ◽

Beatriz Luna ◽

José Luis Sánchez-Lizaso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Framework Directive ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Independent Set ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Shoot Density ◽

Eu Water Framework Directive ◽

Anthropogenic Pressures ◽

Consistent Information ◽

The Eu

Abstract Fernández-Torquemada, Y., Díaz-Valdés, M., Colilla, F., Luna, B., Sánchez-Lizaso, J. L., and Ramos-Esplá, A. A. 2008. Descriptors from Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadows in coastal waters of Valencia, Spain, in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1492–1497. Evaluations are provided of 21 descriptors of Posidonia oceanica meadows along the coast of Valencia, Spain, with a view to using these in implementing the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). The descriptors selected are known to respond to a variety of anthropogenic disturbances. Data were collected at 17 locations during three consecutive years. A principal components analysis was used to classify the ecological status of each locality according to five classes as prescribed by the WFD. To identify the descriptors that contributed most to similarity among localities within each class and to dissimilarity between adjacent classes, a similarity percentage analysis was performed. We also correlated the descriptors with an independent set of indicators for various types of anthropogenic pressures on the water bodies associated with the different localities. The descriptors providing the most consistent information on status as well as demonstrating a significant relationship with estimated pressures were: shoot density, shoot foliar surface, dead-matte cover, meadow cover, herbivore pressure, rhizome baring/burial, foliar necrosis, percentage of plagiotropic rhizomes, and leaf-epiphyte biomass.

Download Full-text

Corrigendum to “A multivariate index based on the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (POMI) to assess ecological status of coastal waters under the framework directive (WFD)” [Marine Pollution Bulletin 55 (2007) 196–204]

Marine Pollution Bulletin ◽

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.02.008 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 54 (5) ◽

pp. 631 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Javier Romero ◽

Begoña Martínez-Crego ◽

Teresa Alcoverro ◽

Marta Pérez

Keyword(s):

Coastal Waters ◽

Marine Pollution ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Posidonia Oceanica ◽

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Download Full-text

Diversity and composition of algal epiphytes on the Mediterranean seagrass Cymodocea nodosa: a scale-based study

Botanica Marina ◽

10.1515/bot-2020-0057 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Soultana Tsioli ◽

Vasillis Papathanasiou ◽

Anastasia Rizouli ◽

Maria Kosmidou ◽

Christos Katsaros ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Scales ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Aegean Sea ◽

Cymodocea Nodosa ◽

Dna Metabarcoding ◽

Red Algal ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Angiosperm Species ◽

Epiphytic Communities ◽

Species Taxon

Abstract Cymodocea nodosa, a typical marine angiosperm species in the Mediterranean Sea, hosts a range of epiphytic algae. Epiphyte abundance varies at different spatial scales, yet epiphyte diversity and community composition are poorly understood. This study explores the epiphytes on C. nodosa from two reference meadows (Thasos, Vrasidas) and one anthropogenically stressed meadow (Nea Karvali) in the northern Aegean Sea (Kavala Gulf, Greece). A nested destructive sampling design at three spatial scales (metres, hundreds of metres, kilometres) and stereoscopic/microscopic observations were used. Light microscopy revealed a total of 19 taxa of macroalgae populating the leaves of C. nodosa. The most commonly encountered taxa with highest cover (%) were Hydrolithon cruciatum and Feldmannia mitchelliae. DNA sequencing (18S rDNA) confirms the presence of a number of dinoflagellate and red algal epiphytes, and this represents the first application of DNA metabarcoding to study the diversity of seagrass epiphytes. Epiphytic communities studied at species/taxon and functional (Ecological Status Groups) levels separated the reference low-stressed meadows from the degraded one, with the functional approach having higher success. The ecological evaluation index classified the studied meadows into different Ecological Status Classes according to anthropogenic stress.

Download Full-text

Spatio-temporal distributions of zoobenthos in soft substratum of Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean), with special emphasis on alien species and ecological quality status

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315412000264 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (7) ◽

pp. 1457-1477 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Melıh Ertan Çinar ◽

Tuncer Katagan ◽

Bılal Öztürk ◽

Kerem Bakir ◽

Ertan Dagli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Alien Species ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Aegean Sea ◽

Depth Range ◽

Biotic Indices ◽

Izmir Bay ◽

Number Of Species ◽

Pollution Indicator ◽

Quality Status

The soft-bottom zoobenthic community structure of Izmir Bay was examined seasonally at eight stations (depth-range: 19–67 m) in 2009. A total of 427 species were found. Polychaeta had the highest number of species (50% of total species) and individuals (75%), whereas Echinodermata possessed the highest biomass (47%). The number of species varied from 3 to 79 (0.1 m−2), the density from 60 to 5360 ind.m−2, and the biomass from 1 to 530 g.m−2. The most numerically dominant species were the polychaetesAricidea claudiae, Streblospio gynobranchiata, Levinsenia demiriandSternaspis scutata. The distribution of zoobenthos was strongly related to spatial differences in total organic carbon, sediment texture and depth among different regions of the bay rather than temporal differences among seasons. However, significant seasonal variability in community structure (mainly differences in the relative abundance of species) was present. The inner region of the bay can be classified as ‘poor’ or ‘bad’ based on the results of biotic indices (H′, AMBI, m-AMBI and BENTIX). Among biotic indices, only H′ and m-AMBI appeared to be capable of explaining the bay's benthic quality status. Thirteen alien species were also found.Streblospio gynobranchiata, Prionospio pulchra, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiataandPolydora cornutaformed dense populations in the inner most polluted part of the bay and are considered to be new pollution indicator species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Download Full-text