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Structure and function of nematode assemblages in contaminated sediments: what can we learn from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea)?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2018

Annalisa Franzo ,
Katja Guilini ,
Tamara Cibic  and
Paola Del Negro
Annalisa Franzo*
Affiliation:
Oceanography Section, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale – OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
Katja Guilini
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Research Group, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Tamara Cibic
Affiliation:
Oceanography Section, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale – OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
Paola Del Negro
Affiliation:
Oceanography Section, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale – OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Annalisa Franzo, Oceanography Section, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale – OGS, I-34151 Trieste, Italy email: afranzo@ogs.trieste.it
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Abstract

Free-living nematodes were investigated in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea), a semi-enclosed basin of strategic importance for its complex productive infrastructure but in need of remediation due to the alarming amounts of heavy metals and synthetic organic contaminants in the sediments. Abundance, genera composition, biodiversity and trophic traits of nematodes were related to the gradual transition from marine to more brackish conditions and to the varying levels of contaminants in different sub-areas of the basin. Nematodes were more abundant and diverse at the most marine site while low numbers and diversity characterized the most contaminated station. Going towards the innermost part of the basin, gradually increasing values of abundance and biodiversity were observed although the assemblage was susceptible to the organic enrichment caused by mussel farms. The use of nematodes as ecological indicators mirrored the response of the assemblage to the main patterns acting in the basin (High/Good scores at the most marine site and Poor/Bad scores at the most contaminated station), giving a clear indication of environmental quality to stakeholders/authority that can contribute to address remediation actions in contaminated sediments.

Keywords

Nematofaunaindustrial contaminationsemi-enclosed basinmussel farmsEcological IndicatorsEcological Quality Status
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 98 , Special Issue 8: Special Section: European Marine Biology Symposium Papers 2018 , December 2018 , pp. 1845 - 1857
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2018 

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