Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume – Posters
Topic 3: INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
E. CECCHI, L. PIAZZI *
ARPAT – Area Mare, Via Marradi, 114 – 57124 Livorno, Italia.
e.cecchi@arpat.toscana.it
* CIBM, Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina, Livorno, Italia.
A NEW METHOD FOR THE ASSESSMENT
OF THE ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF CORALLIGENOUS ASSEMBLAGES
UN NUOVO METODO PER LA DETERMINAZIONE
DELLA QUALITÀ ECOLOGICA DEI POPOLAMENTI CORALLIGENI
Abstract – The paper proposed a new method for the assessment of ecological status of Mediterranean
coralligenous assemblages. The proposal is based on data obtained from photographic samplings carried
out by ARPAT in 5 locations along the coast and islands of Tuscany. Results showed that the proposed
method allowed to clearly separate the studied locations, in agreement with other methods already used in
monitoring survey.
Key-words: coralligenous assemblages, environmental quality, Tuscany.
Introduction – Coralligenous habitat represents one of the most important
Mediterranean coastal systems in relation to its distribution, biodiversity and
production (Ballesteros, 2006). The maintenance of this habitat is due to a balance of
constructive and destructive forces and each impact can influence this balance. Thus,
coralligenous assemblages are considered sensitive to disturbance and they can
represent effective bio-indicators in monitoring programs (Balata et al., 2005; Piazzi et
al., 2010). We proposed a new method for the assessment of Ecological Status of
Coralligenous Assemblages (ESCA index) .
Materials and methods – The proposal is based on data obtained from samplings
carried out by ARPAT in 5 locations along the coast (Meloria Shoals, Livorno, Vada
Shoals, Monte Argentario) and islands (Montecristo) of Tuscany. In each location, two
sites were chosen and in each site two areas were sampled; in each area 15
photographic samples of 1878 cm 2 were collected on vertical bottom at the depth of 30
m. Images were analyzed by Image J to evaluate the cover of the main taxa or groups.
An ecological values ranging between 1 and 10 was attributed to each taxon/group
identified with photographic sampling (Tab. 1).
Tab. 1 - Sensitivity levels of the taxa/groups identify with photographic sampling.
Sensitivity levels dei taxa/gruppi identificati mediante campionamento fotografico.
Taxa/group Sens. lev.
Gorgonacea 10
Halimeda tuna, Cystoseira spp. 9
Flattened corticated Rhodophyta, erect Bryozoa, Madreporaria 8
Large-size terete Rhodophyta with cortication 7
Flabellia petiolata 6
Zanardina typus, Hydrozoa, Tunicata, encrusting Bryozoa 5
Peyssonnelia spp, Palmophyllum crassum, Valonia spp., Porifera, Polychaeta 4
Encrusting Corallinales 3
Dictyotales, articulated Corallinales 2
Turf, Caulerpa spp. 1
41 st S.I.B.M. CONGRESS Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010
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