Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea)
Abstract Macro-benthic communities on the shallowest soft bottoms are impacted by hydraulic dredgers used for the harvesting of the striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina). Changes in macro-benthic assemblages were analysed across four areas in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) dur...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-023-02197-9 |
| _version_ | 1797363724729712640 |
|---|---|
| author | Roberto Carlucci Giulia Cipriano Daniela Cascione Maurizio Ingrosso Enrico Barbone Nicola Ungaro Pasquale Ricci |
| author_facet | Roberto Carlucci Giulia Cipriano Daniela Cascione Maurizio Ingrosso Enrico Barbone Nicola Ungaro Pasquale Ricci |
| author_sort | Roberto Carlucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Macro-benthic communities on the shallowest soft bottoms are impacted by hydraulic dredgers used for the harvesting of the striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina). Changes in macro-benthic assemblages were analysed across four areas in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) during the winter and summer 2022 (low and high fishing pressures, respectively). Two sampling surveys were carried out collecting abundance data (N/100m2) of 69 species. Diversity indices (Shannon–Weiner and Equitability) were calculated and differences between seasons and areas were tested using non-parametric tests. Changes in the assemblage and feeding habits were explored by adopting permutational multivariate analysis of variance on 34 species. Moreover, environmental conditions of all areas in the two seasons were characterized by a set of 8 variables. Seasonal changes in diversity were only detected for the Shannon–Weiner index, with values significantly higher in winter than summer. Macro-benthic assemblages differed between the two seasons, and the winter assemblages were well-distinct in each area. In contrast, a high overlap was shown in the summer assemblages of the four areas. Changes in feeding habits showed an increase in filter feeding polychaetes and opportunistic/scavenger species during the summer. Temperature, Salinity and primary production were positively correlated to summer stations indicating potential thermic stress on the assemblages. The results provide information on the benthic community impacted by dredge disturbance and seasonal changes driven by environmental conditions, stressing the need to integrate these aspects in assessments on the health status of marine ecosystems required by European directives and fishery management plans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:25:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4062ea059f554175b6865a9df94c600d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2730-7182 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:25:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-4062ea059f554175b6865a9df94c600d2024-01-07T12:04:45ZengBMCBMC Ecology and Evolution2730-71822024-01-0124111910.1186/s12862-023-02197-9Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea)Roberto Carlucci0Giulia Cipriano1Daniela Cascione2Maurizio Ingrosso3Enrico Barbone4Nicola Ungaro5Pasquale Ricci6Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment (DBBA), University of BariDepartment of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment (DBBA), University of BariDepartment of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry (DICATECh), Polytechnic University of BariDepartment of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment (DBBA), University of BariEnvironmental Prevention and Protection Agency of Puglia Region, Scientific Direction U.O.C. Natural Environment - Regional Sea CentreEnvironmental Prevention and Protection Agency of Puglia Region, Scientific Direction U.O.C. Natural Environment - Regional Sea CentreDepartment of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment (DBBA), University of BariAbstract Macro-benthic communities on the shallowest soft bottoms are impacted by hydraulic dredgers used for the harvesting of the striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina). Changes in macro-benthic assemblages were analysed across four areas in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea) during the winter and summer 2022 (low and high fishing pressures, respectively). Two sampling surveys were carried out collecting abundance data (N/100m2) of 69 species. Diversity indices (Shannon–Weiner and Equitability) were calculated and differences between seasons and areas were tested using non-parametric tests. Changes in the assemblage and feeding habits were explored by adopting permutational multivariate analysis of variance on 34 species. Moreover, environmental conditions of all areas in the two seasons were characterized by a set of 8 variables. Seasonal changes in diversity were only detected for the Shannon–Weiner index, with values significantly higher in winter than summer. Macro-benthic assemblages differed between the two seasons, and the winter assemblages were well-distinct in each area. In contrast, a high overlap was shown in the summer assemblages of the four areas. Changes in feeding habits showed an increase in filter feeding polychaetes and opportunistic/scavenger species during the summer. Temperature, Salinity and primary production were positively correlated to summer stations indicating potential thermic stress on the assemblages. The results provide information on the benthic community impacted by dredge disturbance and seasonal changes driven by environmental conditions, stressing the need to integrate these aspects in assessments on the health status of marine ecosystems required by European directives and fishery management plans.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-023-02197-9Benthic assemblagesChamelea gallinaIndicator of Value (IndVal)Species diversityFeeding traitsShellfish harvesting |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Carlucci Giulia Cipriano Daniela Cascione Maurizio Ingrosso Enrico Barbone Nicola Ungaro Pasquale Ricci Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea) BMC Ecology and Evolution Benthic assemblages Chamelea gallina Indicator of Value (IndVal) Species diversity Feeding traits Shellfish harvesting |
| title | Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_full | Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_fullStr | Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_short | Influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro-benthic communities in the Southern Adriatic (Central Mediterranean Sea) |
| title_sort | influence of hydraulic clam dredging and seasonal environmental changes on macro benthic communities in the southern adriatic central mediterranean sea |
| topic | Benthic assemblages Chamelea gallina Indicator of Value (IndVal) Species diversity Feeding traits Shellfish harvesting |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-023-02197-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertocarlucci influenceofhydraulicclamdredgingandseasonalenvironmentalchangesonmacrobenthiccommunitiesinthesouthernadriaticcentralmediterraneansea AT giuliacipriano influenceofhydraulicclamdredgingandseasonalenvironmentalchangesonmacrobenthiccommunitiesinthesouthernadriaticcentralmediterraneansea AT danielacascione influenceofhydraulicclamdredgingandseasonalenvironmentalchangesonmacrobenthiccommunitiesinthesouthernadriaticcentralmediterraneansea AT maurizioingrosso influenceofhydraulicclamdredgingandseasonalenvironmentalchangesonmacrobenthiccommunitiesinthesouthernadriaticcentralmediterraneansea AT enricobarbone influenceofhydraulicclamdredgingandseasonalenvironmentalchangesonmacrobenthiccommunitiesinthesouthernadriaticcentralmediterraneansea AT nicolaungaro influenceofhydraulicclamdredgingandseasonalenvironmentalchangesonmacrobenthiccommunitiesinthesouthernadriaticcentralmediterraneansea AT pasqualericci influenceofhydraulicclamdredgingandseasonalenvironmentalchangesonmacrobenthiccommunitiesinthesouthernadriaticcentralmediterraneansea |