Ecological status in the Ligurian Sea: The effect of coastline urbanisation and the importance of proper reference sites
Mangialajo, L.; Ruggieri, N.; Asnaghi, V.; Chiantore, M.; Povero, P.; Cattaneo-Vietti, R. (2007). Ecological status in the Ligurian Sea: The effect of coastline urbanisation and the importance of proper reference sites. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 55(1-6): 30-41. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.08.022 In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more Also appears in:Devlin, M.; Best, M.; Haynes, D. (Ed.) (2007). Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in European marine waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 55(Spec. Issue 1-6). Elsevier: Amsterdam. 297 pp., more |  |
| Keywords | Algae
Cartography
Chemical reactions > Degradation
Composition > Community composition
Conservation > Nature conservation
Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment
Management > Ecosystem management > Coastal zone management
Marine parks
Pollution > Water pollution
Quality assessment
Urbanization
Cystoseira C.Agardh, 1820 [WoRMS]
MED, Ligurian Sea [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | Water Framework Directive; ecological quality; Ligurian sea; Cystoseira;integrated management; quality assessment |
| Authors | | Top | - Mangialajo, L.
- Ruggieri, N.
- Asnaghi, V.
| - Chiantore, M.
- Povero, P.
- Cattaneo-Vietti, R.
| |
| Abstract | The assessment of the ecological status, as required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD), plays an important role in coastal zone management, but only a small number of ecological indices are applicable on rocky bottoms. In this study, we apply a previously defined ecological quality index based on the cartography of littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities (CARLIT), based on the sensitivity of algae dominated communities to anthropogenic impacts along a moderate urban gradient. We also apply this index in four Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), proposed as reference sites at a regional scale. After comparing the outputs with water variables and other quality indices, we can affirm that (1) the CARLIT index is suitable to detect different kinds of anthropogenic pressures, that (2) the choice of proper reference sites is a focal point in the fulfilment of the WFD (Water Framework Directive) and that (3) historical data are important to define reference conditions and the degradation of ecological status. ( |
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