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In this study we propose a conceptual framework, i.e. the Monitoring Breakdown Structure (MBS) as a tool forthe management of marine ecosystems. The conceptual framework thinks through the complexity of marineecosystems keeping into account the variety (space) and variability (time) dimensions. Consistently with theMBS we have built the control charts of trace metal concentrations of two selected biomonitors in the BeagleChannel (south Patagonia) (case study).Thus, we have tested the aptitude of two species of mollusks as biomonitors of heavy metal (HMs) pollution.The selected species were the limpet Nacella (P) magellanica and the bivalve Mytilus chilensis. Seven hundredeighty-five samples were collected along 170 km of the coastal area of the Beagle Channel (BC), (Tierra delFuego, Argentina) in seven selected georeferenced locations and four sampling campaigns (2005, 2007, 2011,2012). Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn determinations in seawater and mollusks by atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS) were carried out. The calculation of the respective concentration factors (CFs), i.e. their capacity as strongbioaccumulators, was also conducted. This is of relevance because it aims to use these data as a baseline referencefor other geographical areas. Second, we have compared metal bioaccumulation differences among sitesand the contamination trend by building, for the first time, the control charts of the baseline metal concentrationsin the biomonitors. For these purposes, we applied probabilistic Johnson's method.Furthermore, the control charts (based on four years baseline data) allowed us to test the contamination trendby plotting data from 2012 vs 2011. Our results confirm N. magellanica as an extremely strong accumulator ofCd, and M chilensis strong bioaccumulator of Cd and Zn. Zn was the most abundant metal followed by Cu.Overall, regarding the contamination trend, based on thousands of determinations we observed that the six meanmetal levels were quite constant over time. Moreover, metal distribution among sites turned out to be notunivocal (no one site is more contaminated than the other sites). Thus, the expected hypothesis of UshuaiaHarbour as being the most contaminated site should be reconsidered. This reinforces the hypothesis of our dataas baseline data (except for cadmium), that should be considered in management decisions about future environmentalmonitoring programs, i.e. preventing/managing marine accidents. Fil: Conti, Marcelo Enrique. Università di Roma; Italia Fil: Tudino, Mabel Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Grazia Finoia, María. Università di Roma; Italia Fil: Simone, Cristina. Università di Roma; Italia Fil: Stripeikis, Jorge. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; Argentina

Lichen Usnea barbata transplants were tested as a biomonitor of atmospheric deposition in an apparently pristine environment that is Tierra del Fuego region (Patagonia, Argentina). The present survey is connected with the volcanic eruption that started in north Patagonia on June 4, 2011 from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcano, Chile (north Patagonia, at 1700 km of distance of our sampling sites). Lichens were collected in September 2011 (one month of exposure) and September 2012 (1 year of exposure) in 27 sites covering the northern region of the province where trees are not present. The atmospheric deposition of 27 elements by using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) was determined in the collected samples. The first aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the volcanic eruption on the regional atmospheric deposition comparing our results with baseline data we determined in U. barbata in 2006 in the same sites. The second aim was to test possible patterns of bioaccumulation between the two sampling campaigns after the volcanic eruption. With respect to 2006 baseline levels, we found significant higher levels for As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cs, Na, Sb and U in lichens collected after 1 month of exposure (first sampling campaign--2011). Between the two sampling campaigns (2011-2012) after the eruption, lichens reflected the natural contamination by volcanic ashes with significantly higher median levels of Br, Cr, Fe, K, Na, Sc, and Se. Results confirmed the very good aptitude of U. barbata to reflect the levels of elements in the environment at global scale and to reflect the volcanic emissions at distant places. Volcanic eruptions cause the emission in the atmosphere of elevated levels of particulate matter. In this regard, our findings demonstrate the importance to evaluate the metal composition of the particles to avoid possible health effects.

With the aim to assess the gastropod mollusk Monodonta turbinata as biomonitor of trace metal pollution in seawater of a central Tyrrhenian ecosystem (Pontine Islands archipelago, Italy), one hundred individuals were collected in five strategic locations in two sampling campaigns during 2011 and 2012. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in the mollusks and in seawater samples (soluble fraction) collected in the same sites in order to obtain the respective concentration factors (CFs). Two-way ANOVA was applied to verify the presence of site and time effects. Then, the significant time effect due to the two sampling campaigns was eliminated by defining six new variables (one for each metal) and applied multivariate statistics in order to obtain more reliable results. Subsequently, the levels of metal contamination of Pontine Islands were compared with the naturality concentration ranges (control charts) previously established for the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy; Conti et al. in Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:3640–3651, 2015). Monodonta resulted to be a very good accumulator of Cd (CF = 2100) and good accumulator of Cr (CF = 1570), Pb (CF = 1000) and Zn (CF = 1160). Levels of Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn in Monodonta from 2011 to 2012 decreased in the range from −22.8 of Pb to −41.9% of Cd in Ponza Frontone, Ponza Cala Fonte and Ponza harbor sites; on the contrary, Cr and Cu showed an increase of 3.4 and 63.7%, respectively, in the same sites from 2011 to 2012. A not univocal trend of metal bioaccumulation patterns between the two sampling campaigns (2011–2012) in the selected sites was observed. No one site resulted to be evidently more contaminated than another (i.e., Ponza harbor site as expected). In general, the metal levels in these marine areas are low and within the previously established baseline ranges for Tyrrhenian Sea (control charts). The results here reported can be used as a reference baseline levels for comparison with other marine geographical areas.

Paganelli D., Nonnis O., Finoia M.G. and Gabellini M., 2013. The role of sediment characterization in environmental studies to assess the effect of relict sand dredging for beach nourishment: the example of offshore sand deposits in Lazio (Tyrrhenian Sea) In: Conley, D.C., Masselink, G., Russell, P.E. and O’Hare, T.J. (eds.), Proceedings 12 th International Coastal Symposium (Plymouth, England), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 65, pp. 10151020, ISSN 0749-0208. Beach nourishment with relict sands has been carried out for several years as a way to counter coastal erosion problems, and it has proven to be a successful beach protection method and one of the most important coastal management tools available. It is however known that relict sand dredging may have significant physical and biological effects on the marine environment, especially in highly biodiverse environments and sensitive habitats such as the Mediterranean marine and coastal system. Within this framework, the Regione Lazio (Italy) local Authority has financed and implemented some research projects aimed at identifying marine sand deposits along the Latium continental shelf. The research brought to the identification of five areas suitable for the exploitation of relict sands along the Tyrrhenian continental shelf. ISPRA was commissioned to carry out environmental characterization studies to evaluate the effects of dredging nourishment-aimed relict sand on the marine environment. This paper presents the results of the grain-size characterization study carried out in the areas identified as suitable for dredging of relict sands; the study allows the identification of the main sedimentological features of the investigated areas, providing some of the necessary information to assess the potential environmental effects of relict sand dredging.

The coastal zone is the most variable area in the marine system in terms of environmental parameters and it is characterised by the highest granulometric variability. Considering that the distribution of benthic foraminifera is controlled by several biotic and abiotic factors, including sediment texture, this may be considered one of the main factors influencing foraminiferal assemblage composition. The role of sediment grain size on foraminiferal species distribution has been recognised by several studies, but only in a few cases it has been considered from a quantitative viewpoint. On this rationale, 137 sediment samples collected in three different Italian National Relevance Sites (Bagnoli, Baia and Augusta), affected by different type and degree of pollution, were analysed for grain size and benthic foraminifera. Although the influence of pollution on foraminifera distribution in these areas had been recognised in earlier studies, the present research applied statistical analysis (Pearson Correlation and Co-Inertia Analysis) in order to highlight the correlation between sediment fractions and foraminiferal species. The correlation found in all sites between the most abundant species and specific sediment fractions indicated that sediment grain size is a primary factor controlling species distribution. The effect of sediment type conditions the distribution of previously recognised pollution tolerant species, which show preference for silty and/or clayey sediments. Because muddy sediments favour contaminant accumulation, such species are more exposed to polluted habitats and consequently their tolerance to anthropogenically-altered conditions may be considered an adaptive strategy.

With regard to the impact of dredging activities in harbour environments on aquatic ecosystems, the aim of this study was to integrate results obtained from a research project carried out in Palermo Harbour in 1999. In particular, an ecotoxicological approach, together with physical–chemical analysis, was introduced to assess the quality of the dredging sediment. This study provides important data and information for the realisation of a handbook on handling of marine sediments in Italy.

Trophic relationships between Scorpaena porcus, S. notata and Chelidonichthys lucerna collected near natural gas platforms were investigated for the first time in central Adriatic Sea from July 2005 to May 2006. Sampling was repeated at control sites on soft bottom where, however, only C. lucerna occurred. All of the three predators showed diet specialization for crustaceans, with high overlap for angular crab Goneplax rhomboides. The widest prey variety, consisting mainly of epibenthic and infaunal organisms, was detected in C. lucerna, whose feeding behaviour resulted not to be affected by the presence of platforms. Burrowing shrimp Alpheus glaber, hairy crab Pilumnus hirtellus, bivalve Corbula gibba, and European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus discriminated S. porcus diet, while thalassinid Jaxea nocturna discriminated S. notata diet. The occurrence of E. encrasicolus as natural prey of S. porcus is discussed. Overall, predators like scorpaenids, which live in strict association with platforms in the study area, seem to rely on soft bottom prey items rather than exploiting resources from the platforms, thus competing with soft-bottom predators (i.e. triglids) for the same resources.

Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most common bivalve molluscs inhabiting the sandy shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This species, which is preferentially distributed on sediments at depths between 0 and about 2 m, is considered to be a substrate-sensitive organism because of its sensitivity to sediment grain size variations during its life cycle, in particular during its early growth stages. This study aims at investigating the relationship between D. trunculus ’ density distributions and sediment grain size, in order to evaluate its use as a biological indicator of grain-size variations in beach sediment. For this purpose, a specific environmental study was performed by ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) along six beaches located in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea between Ladispoli and Anzio (Rome, Italy). On each beach, samples of D. trunculus and superficial sediments were collected in the infra-littoral zone at 3 different depths (0, 0.5, and 1 m) between June 2002 and March 2004. The results pointed out that the distribution of D. trunculus populations is strongly influenced by the sediment's grain size variations. A significant positive correlation was found between species density and the 2.00-phi and 2.50-phi grain size classes; but, in particular, the predominance of the 2.00-phi grain size class in the beach's sediment seems to positively influence the species density and distribution. This study suggests that sediment grain size is the chief factor controlling the distribution of D. trunculus populations; suitable grain sizes allow the settlement and the subsequent growth of well-structured populations. Generally, species density declined in areas subjected to grain-size variations in beach sediments, suggesting a predictable biological response to both natural and human-caused stressors. The present study also highlighted that where nourishment was carried out using suitable sediments, the species reappears on the beach after a few months, as it finds an optimal substrate for settlement. In this case, finding D. trunculus specimens a few months after replenishment indicates that the nourishment operations have been successful from an environmental point of view. As reported by Carignan and Villard (2002) , a species that is strongly associated with particular habitat features could be a useful indicator; in particular, a species – like D. trunculus – that is negatively associated with human disturbances could be considered a “positive” indicator of ecological integrity. Long-term monitoring of D. trunculus abundance or density on sandy beaches (adequately carried out during the species’ recruitment period, e.g. between July and September), could help pinpoint the presence of natural or human-made phenomena that are leading to grain-size variations in the sediment. In conclusion, we can assume that D. trunculus can be used as a practical biological indicator to detect grain size variations on sandy beaches in coastal monitoring programmes; it could be a useful tool for researchers, managers and administrators to assess erosion phenomena while minimizing times and costs, also in view of an integrated coastal zone management.

Examining the results of the Italian national programme of marine coastal monitoring, the old problem has arisen about the choice of the most appropriate procedures and methods to validate data and screen preliminary data. Therefore, statistical distributions of water quality parameters have been taken into consideration, in order to assign appropriate frequency distributions to all the routinely measured variables. Each sample distribution has been analysed and defined by a probability density function (p.d.f.), by means of a powerful method of data analysis (Johnson 1949) that allows for the computation of statistical parameters of a wide variety of non-normal distributions. The resulting Johnson distributions are then classified depending on four fundamental categories of frequency distributions: normal, log-normal, bounded and unbounded. Theoretical aspects of the method are explained and discussed in an adequate way, so as to allow for practical applications. The shape and nature of these curves require further consideration, in order to understand the behaviour of water quality variables and to make comparison among different coastal zones. To this end, two coastal systems were considered in this work: the Emilia-Romagna coastal area of the NW Adriatic Sea and the Tuscany littoral of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. There are notable advantages to the adopted approach. First it offers the possibility to overcome severe constraints requested by the normality assumption, and avoids the troublesome search for the most appropriate transformation function (i.e. for ensuring normality). Second, it avoids searching for other kinds of theoretical distributions that are appropriate for the data. In our approach, the density functions are opportunely integrated, in such a way that, for whatever value assumed by a given variable, the corresponding expected percentage point value under the respective frequency curve, can be calculated, and vice versa. We believe that the Johnson method, although tested with coastal monitoring data, can be usefully adopted whenever we have to analyse environmental data and try to understand how an aquatic system works (e.g. large lakes). In the Appendix specific details about the Johnson classification criterion are reported and highlight the case of bimodal distributions. Finally, an example of data analysis is provided, by using the R (V. 2.11) software, with both graphical and numerical outputs.

We collected pearly razorfish, Xyrichtys novacula (Labridae), from a sandy bottom of Capo d’Orlando (Tyrrhenian Sea) to study their feeding habits. We caught fish by hand-lines and seine nets and identified, counted and weighed food items in their stomachs. We evaluated the importance of the different prey types by calculating the frequency of occurrence, abundance and mass. We used these values to calculate the index of relative importance (IRI) for each taxonomic category and a modified index (MI) which did not incorporate %N into the formula. Gammarideans were dominant food items in terms of %F but showed a very low MI value; the bivalve Acanthocardia tubercolata was the dominant species in terms of %W and MI value. The prey items were mostly benthic organisms belonging to the assemblage of fine, well-sorted sands showing that X. novacula is a benthic feeder. Despite the large number of prey taxa found, few species accounted for most of the prey consumed, indicating specialist feeding, as confirmed by the low value of the Levins’ standardised index. We found significant differences in prey distribution among size classes, with the highest prey diversity recorded in 120–140 mm TL size classes. Correspondence analysis showed a trend of increasing predator size classes among prey items, with small prey, such as copepods and amphipods, in the smallest predator size classes and bigger prey in the larger ones. Prey caught by larger predators differed significantly in weight from those taken by smaller specimens. There was a significant positive correlation of fish length with bivalves, decapods and echinoids, and a negative one with copepods, ostracods, caprellids, gammarideans. There were no significant differences between males and females of overlapping sizes. Juveniles are able to exploit only small, vulnerable prey, while adults take few, large prey, thereby avoiding competition with juveniles.

The distribution of tributyltin (TBT) in marine sediments from 16 areas of the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Ligurian Seas was investigated, to obtain an extensive description of TBT residues along the whole Italian coast. The selected sites are located in three different types of marine areas: near important harbours, near river mouths and in coastal areas with moderate anthropogenic impact. The highest concentrations were measured in the harbour areas of the Gulfs of Naples and Taranto (17.81 and 21.08 ng Sn g−1 d.w., respectively). The lowest values were observed in coastal areas of the S. Eufemia and Policastro Gulfs (7.23 and 7.41 ng Sn g−1 dry weight (d.w.) respectively). On the whole, the sampled sediments may be considered as lightly contaminated, according to recent international classification. The statistical analysis suggests a significant combined effect of type of coastal area and marine basin on the TBT values, while the grain size does not seem to have analogous importance in the distri...

The reproductive biology of the Mediterranean razor fish Xyrichthys novacula was investigated by demographic data and histological analysis of the female, intersexual and male gonads. Specimens were collected by bottom trawl on a monthly basis between June 2000 and July 2001 in a sandy bay in southern Thyrrenian. Gonad histology confirmed that the Mediterranean razor fish is a monandric, protogynous hermaphrodite. Females reached first sexual maturity at 100 mm (L T ) and the estimated mean LT at first maturity (L 50 ) was 125 mm. Females exhibited asynchronous ovarian development and multiple ovulations occurred over the spawning period. Vitellogenesis started in early May and spawning occurred from late May until late September. Sexual transition involved a large-scale atresia of all oocyte stages and a massive degeneration of ovarian tissue followed by primordial germ cells proliferation. Sex change began at spawning time (June) but transitional individuals tended to cluster at the end of the reproductive period (September). They accounted for 17.1% of the population sampled and were found in a broad size range (105-150 mm L T ).

The aim of the investigation was to quantify, during the daytime, the nutritional components N and P (as dissolved and particulate) discharged into the Orbetello Lagoon (Tuscany, Italy) from a fish farming facility equipped with a phytotreatment (lagooning) system to treat the effluent produced. Consideration was also given to the water quality improvement capacity of the treatment system used during the daytime phase in which Ulva rigida C. Ag develops spontaneously. Taking into consideration the short residence time (about 8 h) of the water inside the phytotreatment ponds, the results revealed a very active process of nitrification, an appreciable soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) abatement (15%), a relatively small mean annual dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) abatement (5%), sharp reduction in the organic fraction vis-a-vis the inorganic fraction in the particulate component and an appreciable modification of the physicochemical parameters, in particular the pH and dissolved oxygen (DO). The DIN and SRP uptake rates were relatively low compared to literature data. The most efficient DIN uptakes were obtained with algal densities between 700 and 1500 g/m2 wet weight (w.w.). Discriminant statistical analysis indicates that lagooning had a strong effect on the effluent despite the short residence time.

Demographic data and gonad histology confirmed that the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus is a protogynous hermaphrodite that follows a monandric pathway to sexual development. Females reached first sexual maturity at 36.7 cm L S and estimated mean length at first maturity (L 50 ) was 43.8 cm L S for females and 81.3 cm L S for males. Adult sex ratios during the reproductive period were c. 3.5: 1 females to males. Females exhibited group-synchronous ovarian development and multiple ovulation occurred over the spawning period. Gonads were ripe from early May and spawning occurred from June until early September. The size of ripe testes (0.6% W) indicated strong oligospermy and suggested a mating system with no sperm competition. Sexual transition was protogynous involving regression of ovarian tissue and proliferation of testicular tissue in the gonads. Transitional individuals occurred from May through November and accounted for 9% of sampled adult population. Sex change occurred in fish 69-93 cm (L S ) long and the size distributions of males and females overlapped over 27% of the L S range Special zones were recognized as gathering areas for sexually mature dusky groupers during the reproductive period.

This study is aimed at assessing the effects of multiple stressors (thermal shock, fishing capture, and exposure to air) on the benthic stomatopod Squilla mantis, a burrowing crustacean quite widespread in the Mediterranean Sea. Laboratory analyses were carried out to explore the physiological impairment onset over time, based on emersion and thermal shocks, on farmed individuals. Parallel field-based studies were carried out to also investigate the role of fishing (i.e., otter trawling) in inducing physiological imbalance in different seasonal conditions. The dynamics of physiological recovery from physiological disruption were also studied. Physiological stress was assessed by analysing hemolymph metabolites (L-Lactate, D-glucose, ammonia, and H+), as well as glycogen concentration in muscle tissues. The experiments were carried out according to a factorial scheme considering the three factors (thermal shock, fishing capture, and exposure to air) at two fixed levels in order to explore possible synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects among factors. Additive effects on physiological parameters were mainly detected when the three factors interacted together while synergistic effects were found as effect of the combination of two factors. This finding highlights that the physiological adaptive and maladaptive processes induced by the stressors result in a dynamic response that may encounter physiological limits when high stress levels are sustained. Thus, a further increase in the physiological parameters due to synergies cannot be reached. Moreover, when critical limits are encountered, mortality occurs and physiological parameters reflect the response of the last survivors. In the light of our mortality studies, thermal shock and exposure to air have the main effect on the survival of S. mantis only on trawled individuals, while lab-farmed individuals did not show any mortality during exposure to air until after 2 hours.

In this work, a suite of diagnostic biomarkers was applied to seven cetacean species to evaluate the role of the feeding habits and migratory behavior in the toxicological status of these species from the Gulf of California, Mexico. We investigate the interspecific differences in cytochrome P450 1A1 and 2B (CYP1A1 and CYP2B, respectively), aryl hydrocarbon receptor and E2F transcription factor 1 and the contaminants levels [organochlorine compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] in four odontocete species (common bottlenose dolphin, long-beaked common dolphin, sperm whale and killer whale) and three mysticete species (blue whale, fin whale, and Bryde's whale) using skin biopsy. Differences in contaminant levels and molecular biomarker responses between the odontocete and mysticete species have been pointed out. The canonical discriminant analysis on principal component analysis factors, performed to reveal clustering variables, shows that odontocete are characterised by the highest levels of lipophilic contaminants compared to the mysticete, with the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes and PBDEs detected in killer whale and the lowest levels in Bryde's whale. The biomarker data show interspecific differences amongst the seven species, revealing highest CYP1A and CYP2B protein levels in the mysticete fish-eating species (Bryde's whale). In conclusion, three main factors seem to regulate the biomarker responses in these species: (a) the inductive ability of persistent organic pollutants and PAHs; (b) the different evolutionary process of the two CYPs related to the different feeding habits of the species; (c) the migratory/resident behaviour of the mysticete species in this area.

Modelling the relationships between soil chemical factors and vegetation in coastal areas provides a significant contribution to understanding the ecology and conservation of these ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin. The present study relates coastal plant communities and soil chemistry using multivariate analysis and generalized additive models (GAMs) in order (a) to determine the relationships between soil factors and plant community occurrence along a coastline-lagoon gradient; (b) to build best models of soil chemical predictors for coastal plant community occurrence. Distance from coastline was the primary driver of changes in plant community composition and soil factors on the Mediterranean coast. Field capacity, pH, CaCO3, NaCl and soil organic matter were the major parameters related to the pattern of vegetation distribution. Along the costaline-lagoon gradient, however, plant community and soil changes agreed for two main sequences of habitats. The first was in the sand dune environment, involving plant communities, the species composition of which varied in response to increasing soil development. The second was near lagoons, where vegetation responded to soil salinity, acting independently of other soil factors. Coastal plant community occurrence was explained by GAMs, using a few soil chemical predictors: pH and CaCO3 were the main predictors for dune communities but only partly explained their occurrence, whereas NaCl was the key factor for salt marsh community occurrence and largely contributed to the model. The results suggest that soil chemical changes can be detected through vegetation distribution, particularly in saline habitats. Thus, habitat-based models could be a useful tool to identify the key factors for different types of vegetation occurrence in coastal habitats.

A back-reef of Posidonia oceanica (Santa Liberata, Orbetello, Italy) subject to degradation lost its typical mixed meadow of Cymodocea nodosa , Nanozostera noltii and Caulerpa prolifera and was colonised by the invasive chlorophycea Caulerpa racemosa var. cylindracea ( C. racemosa ) between 2003 and 2004. When the submerged flora behind the P. oceanica barrier reef was studied between 2005 and 2006, C. racemosa constituted 25% of the macroalgal biomass and showed high cover (>50%). Residual dead patches of the mixed meadow had been colonized by Penicillus capitatus . By 2011, C. racemosa had fallen to about 3% of total algal mass and its cover had also dropped (5-25%), while other typical species predominated: P. oceanica dead mattes were covered by thin dense mats of photophile species dominated by Jania rubens and Cladophora sp. Periodically, the latter produced balls that floated freely on the bottom. We compared the lists of phytobenthic flora for 2005, 2006 and 2011 by explorative correspondence analysis. The 2011 list showed a 27% increase in autochthonous species. The results suggest that the invasion of allochthonous fast-spreading C. racemosa may occur in degraded ecosystems after events that altered the original community. The community can recover through a succession of vegetation changes.

The concurrence of man-made pressures on cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea is potentially affecting population stability and marine biodiversity. This needs to be proven for the only pelagic marine protected area in the Mediterranean Sea: the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Mammals. Here we applied a multidisciplinary tool, using diagnostic markers elaborated in a statistical model to rank toxicological stress in Mediterranean cetaceans. As a case study we analyzed persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals combined with a wide range of diagnostic markers of exposure to anthropogenic contaminants and genetic variation as marker of genetic erosion in striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) skin biopsies. Finally, a statistical model was applied to obtain a complete toxicological profile of the striped dolphin in the Pelagos Sanctuary and other Mediterranean areas (Ionian Sea and Strait of Gibraltar). Here we provide the first complete evidence of the toxicological stress in cetaceans living in Pelagos Sanctuary.

Evidence is given of the second documented record of Gephyroberyx darwinii (Beryciformes: Trachychthyidae) in the Mediterranean. One specimen was caught offshore S. Agata di Militello (Tyrrhenian Sea) in August 2011 by trammel net. Herein are reported its morphometric and meristic features.

With the aim to evaluate the mollusk Nacella (P)magellanica as biomonitor of elemental pollution in seawater of the Beagle Channel, more than one hundred individuals of the gastropod were sampled, separated in viscera and muscle, and then examined with respect to the accumulation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Collection was performed in seven strategic locations along 170 km of the coastal area of the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) in two campaigns during 2005 and 2007. Samples of surrounding seawater in the different sites were obtained and tested for the same metals as well. The accumulation capacity of Nacella (P)magellanica and thus its aptitude as biomonitor, was evaluated through the calculus of the preconcentration factors of the metals assayed. A discussion involving the comparison with other mollusks previously tested will be given. Several statistical approaches able to analyze data with environmental purposes were applied. Non parametric univariate tests such as Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney were carried out to assess the changes of the metal concentrations with time (2005 and 2007) in each location. Multivariate methods (linear discriminant analysis on PCA factors) were also applied to obtain a more reliable site classification. Johnson's probabilistic method was carried out for comparison between different geographical areas. The possibility of employing these results as heavy metals0 background levels of seawater from the Beagle Channel will be debated. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012. Fil: Conti, Marcelo Enrique. Università di Roma; Italia. International Academy of Environmental Sciences; Italia Fil: Stripeikis, Jorge Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Finoia, Maria Grazia. Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale; Italia Fil: Tudino, Mabel Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina

Lichen, Usnea barbata, transplants taken from Tierra del Fuego (south Patagonia, Argentina) were tested as potential biomonitors of atmospheric airborne deposition in an apparently pristine environment. In 2005, lichens were sampled in a reference site (n = 31) and transplanted in the northern Region of Tierra del Fuego. After, respectively, 1 month and 1 year of exposure, we collected them. The aim of the study was to determine the bioaccumulation of 26 elements in order to evaluate the background levels in the selected area. Samples were analyzed by the sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Discriminant analysis on principal component analysis factors was applied in order to explore the relationship among the different elements as far as time and spatial variation in transplants regards. The analysis was tested by Monte Carlo test based on 999 replicates. The most important contamination source resulted to be the atmospheric soil particle deposition. Furthermore, the results were compared with those obtained from the lichens collected in central and southern Tierra del Fuego. This study confirms the ability of U. barbata to reflect the background levels of the 26 elements in that environment. Compared with other background sites in the world, we did confirm that Tierra del Fuego lichens have a low content of the studied elements. Tierra del Fuego turned out not to be a pristine environment as supposed, but it can be considered as a reference basal ecosystem for useful comparisons among different geographical areas. These findings can be very relevant and useful for environmental conservation programs.

We develop a 800 km long relative baseline of metal pollution for the Tyrrhenian Sea, from the north of Naples to south of Sicily (Italy), based on spatio-temporal (1997–2004) concentrations of trace metals in marine organisms and on the bioaccumulative properties of those organisms. The study concerns sites in the gulf of Gaeta-Formia, near Naples, and three islands north, west, and south of Sicily: Ustica, Favignana and Linosa. The five metals are: cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc; the species include: Monodonta turbinata ( n = 161), Patella caerulea ( n = 244) and the algae Padina pavonica ( n = 84). We use Johnson's (1949) [15] probabilistic method to determine the type of distribution that accounts for our data. It is a system of frequency curves that represents the transformation of the standard normal curves. We find an N–S pollution gradient in molluscs considered: the lowest metal pollution occurs around the Sicilian islands. Our method can accurately characterize marine pollution by contributing to: policy-making, coastal resources management, the assessments of environmental damages from marine accidents and other events. The method here presented is a useful tool for pollution comparisons purposes among ecosystems (i.e., risk monitoring) and it is an ideal starting point for its application on a global scale.

Trace elements were analyzed in organisms collected at five sampling stations along coastal areas of Linosa Island, Sicily (southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn were measured in Posidonia oceanica L. Delile tissues, the two brown algae Padina pavonica (L.) Thivy and Cystoseira sp., and the two gastropod mollusks Monodonta turbinata Born and Patella caerulea L. Seawater samples were also collected at each site to assess soluble metal concentrations and to gain relevant information on their bioaccumulation ability. Data were processed by multivariate techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis on PCA factors. The scoreplots obtained showed that the pollutant distribution is more significantly correlated with species than with sites. For seaweeds, P. oceanica was associated with higher Cd, Cu, and Zn levels; Padina species had higher Cr concentrations, and Cystoseira had higher Pb levels. For mollusks, Monodonta species had high concentrations of Cu and Cr and Patella species were associated with Cd. Some general metal bioaccumulation patterns are described but no one sampling site was more contaminated than the others. The hypothesis of Linosa island serving as a reference ecosystem for baseline trace metal levels in southern Tyrrhenian areas is indeed supported by the statistical comparison among other southern Tyrrhenian ecosystems performed with Kruskall Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. For P. oceanica leaves, P. pavonica, M. turbinata, and P. caerulea, this study confirms their usefulness as possible cosmopolitan biomonitors of trace metals in marine Mediterranean areas.

Marine biotic indices (AMBI, BENTIX) and the statistical tool M-AMBI (Multivariate AMBI) were applied as a comparative approach in assessing the Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) of two Mediterranean coastal lakes (Caprolace and Fogliano lakes) situated in the Circeo National Park (Central Italy). The macrobenthic community was analysed using univariate indices (community structure), correspondence analysis (CA) and taxonomic distinctness indices (D + and L + ). The community composition showed a dominance of lagoonal species in

This study provides information on bathymetric and longitudinal distribution heterogeneity of the rockfish Helicolenus dactylopterus in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. Data were drawn from experimental bottom trawl (1996-2002) plus bottom trap (2001-02) surveys. The frequency of occurrence and mean relative density (N/km2) and biomass (kg/km2) indexes were calculated for two survey seasons (spring and autumn), four geographic sectors and three depth strata. MANOVA was used to test fish abundance among years, sectors and strata. Analysis of the length-frequency distributions was carried out by two-way (gears and depths) ANOVA, post hoc multiple comparisons for testing differences among depths and Student’s t test for testing differences between gears. Length-weight relationship was also estimated and the allometric coefficient was tested with the Student’s t test. The results showed a significant positive bathymetric gradient of sizes both for trawl and trap surveys; at same depths, fish caught by traps were significantly longer than those caught by trawl. In spring surveys, significant differences were found among strata for both abundance indexes; in autumn surveys, significant differences between depth strata were found only for density indices. The distribution and abundance patterns of H. dactylopterus along the southern Tyrrhenian Sea was homogeneous among sectors. Length-weight relationship showed a significant positive allometric growth.