Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean Lagoons
Coastal lagoons and brackish ponds are extremely dynamic and temporary ecosystems that follow natural changes throughout their geological history. The correct management of the lagoons ensures their integrity and proper functioning. For this reason, their ecological status should be surveyed for ass...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/783 |
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| author | Jacopo Giampaoletti Alice Sbrana Paolo Magni Maria Flavia Gravina |
| author_facet | Jacopo Giampaoletti Alice Sbrana Paolo Magni Maria Flavia Gravina |
| author_sort | Jacopo Giampaoletti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coastal lagoons and brackish ponds are extremely dynamic and temporary ecosystems that follow natural changes throughout their geological history. The correct management of the lagoons ensures their integrity and proper functioning. For this reason, their ecological status should be surveyed for assessing the most appropriate strategies of use. In the present study, historical datasets collected in 2003–2004 are used to investigate the spatiotemporal variation in the species composition and community structure of the macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon (Sardinia, Italy) and to assess their relationship with key environmental variables. Owing to the presence of a riverine runoff at a site and confined areas at some distance from the sea inlet, we hypothesize the marked spatiotemporal changes of the macrobenthic community consistent with the high environmental variability typical of coastal lagoons. The results show a surprisingly high benthic biodiversity for a medium-sized lagoon (250 ha), with 101 species unevenly distributed across the lagoon. The environmental variables did not explain the zonation of the macrobenthic community as that typically found along a lagoonal gradient, due to a marked marine influence. The sampling sites were in fact discriminated by the species distribution according to their ecological affinity; in particular, the most distinctive characteristics of the Tortolì Lagoon emerged from the strictly marine species that represented the most abundant group, consistently with the high marinization of the lagoon. Our results show that the Tortolì Lagoon constitutes a peculiar ecosystem within Mediterranean lagoons, departing from the classic confinement theory. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:33:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-adc5821cdc2a4374a9b7f44f428a067f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:33:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-adc5821cdc2a4374a9b7f44f428a067f2023-11-18T10:03:26ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-06-0115678310.3390/d15060783Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean LagoonsJacopo Giampaoletti0Alice Sbrana1Paolo Magni2Maria Flavia Gravina3CNR-IAS, National Research Council—Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment, Località Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09170 Oristano, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, ItalyCNR-IAS, National Research Council—Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment, Località Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09170 Oristano, ItalyCNR-IAS, National Research Council—Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment, Località Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09170 Oristano, ItalyCoastal lagoons and brackish ponds are extremely dynamic and temporary ecosystems that follow natural changes throughout their geological history. The correct management of the lagoons ensures their integrity and proper functioning. For this reason, their ecological status should be surveyed for assessing the most appropriate strategies of use. In the present study, historical datasets collected in 2003–2004 are used to investigate the spatiotemporal variation in the species composition and community structure of the macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon (Sardinia, Italy) and to assess their relationship with key environmental variables. Owing to the presence of a riverine runoff at a site and confined areas at some distance from the sea inlet, we hypothesize the marked spatiotemporal changes of the macrobenthic community consistent with the high environmental variability typical of coastal lagoons. The results show a surprisingly high benthic biodiversity for a medium-sized lagoon (250 ha), with 101 species unevenly distributed across the lagoon. The environmental variables did not explain the zonation of the macrobenthic community as that typically found along a lagoonal gradient, due to a marked marine influence. The sampling sites were in fact discriminated by the species distribution according to their ecological affinity; in particular, the most distinctive characteristics of the Tortolì Lagoon emerged from the strictly marine species that represented the most abundant group, consistently with the high marinization of the lagoon. Our results show that the Tortolì Lagoon constitutes a peculiar ecosystem within Mediterranean lagoons, departing from the classic confinement theory.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/783benthic macroinvertebratesspecies richnesscommunity structurelagoon ecosystemsbrackish pondsoyster culture |
| spellingShingle | Jacopo Giampaoletti Alice Sbrana Paolo Magni Maria Flavia Gravina Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean Lagoons Diversity benthic macroinvertebrates species richness community structure lagoon ecosystems brackish ponds oyster culture |
| title | Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean Lagoons |
| title_full | Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean Lagoons |
| title_fullStr | Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean Lagoons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean Lagoons |
| title_short | Macrobenthos of the Tortolì Lagoon: A Peculiar Case of High Benthic Biodiversity among Mediterranean Lagoons |
| title_sort | macrobenthos of the tortoli lagoon a peculiar case of high benthic biodiversity among mediterranean lagoons |
| topic | benthic macroinvertebrates species richness community structure lagoon ecosystems brackish ponds oyster culture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/6/783 |
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