Effects of dredging activities on population dynamics of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile in the Mediterranean Sea: the case study of Capo Feto (SW Sicily, Italy)
Badalamenti, F.; Di Carlo, G.; D'Anna, G.; Toccaceli, M. (2006). Effects of dredging activities on population dynamics of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile in the Mediterranean Sea: the case study of Capo Feto (SW Sicily, Italy), in: Queiroga, H. et al. (Ed.) Marine biodiversity: patterns and processes, assessment, threats, management and conservation: Proceedings of the 38th European Marine Biology Symposium, held in Aveiro, Portugal, 8-12 September 2003. Developments in Hydrobiology, 183: pp. 253-261. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1121-5 In: Queiroga, H. et al. (2006). Marine biodiversity - Patterns and processes, assessment, threats, management and conservation: Proceedings of the 38th European Marine Biology Symposium, held in Aveiro, Portugal, 8-12 September 2003. European Marine Biology Symposia, 38. Developments in Hydrobiology, 183. ISBN 1-4020-4321-X. XV, 353 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4697-9, more In: European Marine Biology Symposia., more |
| Available in | Authors | | Document type: Conference paper
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| Keywords | Flora > Weeds > Marine organisms > Seaweeds > Sea grass
Man-induced effects
Population dynamics
Population functions > Mortality
Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile, 1813 [WoRMS]; Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile, 1813 [WoRMS]
MED, Italy, Sicily [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | population dynamics; shoot mortality; human impact; Posidonia oceanica; seagrass; Mediterranean sea |
| Authors | | Top | - Badalamenti, F.
- Di Carlo, G.
- D'Anna, G.
- Toccaceli, M.
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| Abstract | Between 1981 and 1993 a methane pipeline was deployed between Sicily (Italy) and Tunisia. This involved the construction of a pipeline trench, which damaged the Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadow at Capo Feto (SW Sicily, Italy) and disturbed the surrounding meadow. Seagrass growth and population dynamics were examined at different depth ranges and at increasing distances from the construction site outer limit (5, 15, 30, 50 m). Results showed significant differences between the shallow (10±3.3 m) and the deep (20±4.6 m) meadow as well as differences among distances. The age structure of P. oceanica varied along the distance gradient and with depth. The mortality rate decreased with distance from the trench at all depth ranges, showing that the plants close to the excavation suffered a higher level of disturbance. Turnover and annual gross shoot recruitment rate (Rgross) were higher in the shallow portion of the meadow than in the deep range. Forecast of future meadow development (Rnet) close to the trench indicates that, if present conditions are maintained, shoot density will be reduced by 50% over the next 6 to 17 yrs. |
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