Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume – Posters
Topic 3: INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
G. COSTANTINO, N. UNGARO, F. MASTROTOTARO * , D. BATTISTA * , M. BLONDA,
A.M. PASTORELLI, R. CARLUCCI * , A. TURSI *
ARPA Puglia - Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection and Prevention ARPA Puglia
DAP, Via Oberdan, 18/E - 70126 Bari, Italia.
g.costantino@arpa.puglia.it
* Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Bari, Via Orabona, 4 - 70123 Bari, Italia.
RECENT DATA FROM THE MONITORING OF POSIDONIA OCEANICA
IN TWO MARINE PROTECTED AREAS OF THE APULIAN COASTS
(CENTRAL-EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA)
DATI RECENTI SUL MONITORAGGIO DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA
IN DUE AREE MARINE PROTETTE DELLE COSTE PUGLIESI
(MEDITERRANEO CENTRO-ORIENTALE)
Abstract – This paper reports recent bio-ecological data on the Posidonia oceanica meadows located in two
Marine Protected Areas of the Apulia region, Tremiti Islands and Porto Cesareo, placed in the Southern
Adriatic Sea and North-Eastern Ionian Sea, respectively. The main features of the meadows (morphoecology,
phenology, lepidochronology) were estimated. Moreover, in situ (-15 depth) continuous recording
of light intensity (Lux) and water temperature (°C) was carried out during the period Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009.
Key-words: Posidonia oceanica, monitoring, MPAs, central-eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Introduction – European and National acts (Directive EC/2000/60, Italian Law Decree
152/2006, Italian Ministry Decree 56/2009) strongly recommend the monitoring of
phanerogams, including Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, as Biological Quality Element
for the assessment of the environmental status of marine coastal waters. In the
framework of the monitoring program in the Apulian region, two P. oceanica sites
respectively located in the MPAs “Tremiti Islands (Adriatic Sea)” and “Porto Cesareo
(Ionian Sea)” have been investigated (Oct. 2008 – Nov. 2009) in order to collect both
biotic and abiotic data.
Materials and methods – The two investigated P. oceanica meadows are located into
distinct basins (Southern Adriatic Sea, North-Eastern Ionian Sea) (Fig. 1). The
sampling plan, as well as the laboratory analysis protocol (phenology and
lepidochronology), were standardized at national level (Cicero & Di Girolamo, 2001;
ISPRA, 2009). In each meadow, n. 1 sampling stations were investigated by scuba
divers at the fixed depth of 15 m (n. 9 counts in 40×40 cm square; n. 18 shoots
sampled; morpho-ecological observations). At this depth a waterproof
temperature/light data-logger was placed close to the sea floor for the continuous data
recording (20’ time step).
Results – The analytical results from the monitoring of both bio-ecological parameters
and physical ones (annual trend of temperature and light intensity at -15 m depth) are
reported in the Tab. 1 and in the Fig. 2. Higher values of “Density”,”Leaf Area Index”
and “Leaf Standing Crop” have been estimated for the Porto Cesareo meadow, while
higher values of “Epiphytes Biomass” resulted for the Tremiti meadow. The sea floor
temperature highlighted the same annual trend in both the sites; the annual average
values calculated over the Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009 period were 17.14 °C and 18.39 °C in
the Tremiti and Porto Cesareo meadows respectively. At the same time interval the
average value of light intensity was 82.86 lux in the Tremiti and 292.15 lux in the
Porto Cesareo meadows.
41 st S.I.B.M. CONGRESS Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010
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