Biodiversity, feeding habits and reproductive strategies of benthic macrofauna in a protected area of the northern Adriatic Sea: a three-year study

The macrozoobenthic community at a sublittoral station located in the Marine Protected Area of Miramare, Gulf of Trieste (Italy) was investigated monthly from June 2002 to July 2005. Community variables were studied and related to food sources (particulate, total and biopolymeric carbon contents, benthic microalgae and meiofauna). In addition, the macrofaunal response to a heatwave that occurred in summer 2003 in the area was also explored. Univariate and multivariate analyses highlighted that the macrozoobenthic community structure shifted towards the end of the study. Diversity remained fairly stable throughout the study, despite the high turnover values. From a dominance of short-lived invertebrates related to irregular fresh organic matter inputs, the community shifted toward long-lived taxa, principally related to an increase of biopolymeric C and microalgal biomass. Semelparous invertebrates seem to be less resistant to high temperatures compared to iteroparous ones. The latter proved to be capable competitors since they prevailed over the semelparous species towards the end of the study.The community exhibited a certain degree of resistance to high temperature, due to the adaptation of the macrofaunal invertebrates to this particular stress, induced by the wide natural fluctuations in temperature that occur on a seasonal basis in the Gulf of Trieste. This study highlights the importance of long datasets to assess the state and ecological processes of the macrofaunal communities.

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Seasonal response of benthic foraminifera to anthropogenic pressure in two stations of the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy): the marine protected area of Miramare versus the Servola water sewage outfall

Mediterranean Marine Science ◽

10.12681/mms.16154 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

ROMANA MELIS ◽

MASSIMO CELIO ◽

VINCENT M.P. BOUCHET ◽

GABRIELLA VARAGONA ◽

MATTEO BAZZARO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Benthic Foraminifera ◽

Adriatic Sea ◽

Marine Protected Area ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Ecological Quality ◽

Northern Adriatic Sea ◽

Northern Adriatic ◽

Gulf Of Trieste ◽

Bioavailable Fraction

A seasonal survey of living benthic foraminifera was performed in 2013 in the Gulf of Trieste (N Adriatic Sea) to compare two marine coastal sites with different degrees of anthropogenic influence. An assessment of ecological quality statuses showed that the station located near the end of an urban pipeline (Ser station), has worse ecological conditions than the site located in a protected marine area (Res station) all year around. Stressed conditions at Ser station were mainly related to high contents of total organic carbon (TOC) and Zn in the bioavailable fraction, which were a limiting factor for the studied foraminiferal communities. Ammonia tepida, Bolivina spp., and Bulimina spp., which characterised this station, were the most tolerant taxa of the studied assemblage. Conversely, Elphidium spp., H. depressula, N. iridea, Quiqueloculina spp., R. nana and Textularia spp., could be considered less tolerant species as they benefitted from the less stressful conditions recorded at Res station, despite slightly higher concentrations of some potentially toxic elements (PTEs), especially Pb, being recorded in this station in comparison to Ser station. Furthermore, foraminiferal assemblages were found to be quite resilient over an annual cycle, being able to recover from a seasonal unbalanced state to a mature one. The beginning of spring and latest summer would be the best period to assess the ecological quality status to avoid any under- or overestimation of the health of the environment.

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Analyses of the Relationship Between Mucous Aggregates and Phytoplankton Communities in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) by Multivariate Techniques

Marine Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1439-0485.1996.tb00509.x ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 17 (1-3) ◽

pp. 291-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Bruno Cataletto ◽

Enrico Feoli ◽

Serena Fonda Umani ◽

Marina Monti ◽

Irene Pecchiar

Keyword(s):

Adriatic Sea ◽

Multivariate Techniques ◽

Northern Adriatic Sea ◽

Northern Adriatic ◽

Gulf Of Trieste ◽

Phytoplankton Communities ◽

The Relationship

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The Legacy of the Idrija Mine Twenty-Five Years after Closing: Is Mercury in the Water Column of the Gulf of Trieste Still an Environmental Issue?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph181910192 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (19) ◽

pp. 10192

Author(s):

Elena Pavoni ◽

Elisa Petranich ◽

Sergio Signore ◽

Giorgio Fontolan ◽

Stefano Covelli

Keyword(s):

Water Column ◽

Environmental Concern ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Northern Adriatic Sea ◽

Northern Adriatic ◽

High Discharge ◽

Fine Sediments ◽

Gulf Of Trieste ◽

Freshwater Inputs

Mercury (Hg) contamination in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) due to mining activity in Idrija (Slovenia) still represents an issue of environmental concern. The Isonzo/Soča River’s freshwater inputs have been identified as the main source of Hg into the Gulf, especially following periods of medium-high discharge. This research aims to evaluate the occurrence and distribution of dissolved (DHg) and particulate (PHg) Hg along the water column in the northernmost sector of the Gulf, a shallow and sheltered embayment suitable for the accumulation of fine sediments. Sediment and water samples were collected under unperturbed and perturbed environmental conditions induced by natural and anthropogenic factors. Mercury in the sediments (0.77–6.39 µg g−1) and its relationship to grain size were found to be consistent with previous research focused on the entire Gulf, testifying to the common origin of the sediment. Results showed a notable variability of DHg (<LOD–149 ng L−1) and PHg (0.39–12.5 ng L−1) depending on the interaction between riverine and marine hydrological conditions. Mercury was found to be mainly partitioned in the suspended particles, especially following periods of high discharge, thus confirming the crucial role of the river inputs in regulating PHg distribution in the Gulf.

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