Publication Date:
2011
abstract:
This study presents a biotic index (?) for measuring environmental quality in the coastal lagoons of the Mediterranean.
Index ? considers combined anthropogenic (pollution) and natural factors (prohibitive salinity, anoxia, toxic blooms, isolation from
sea, etc.) of deterioration. The method is based on the principle of indicator species and on the conceptual scheme developed by Frisoni
et al. (1984) according to which there are six possible sub-assemblages (Zones) of benthic macrofauna, each indicating a different level
of environmental quality. The procedure requires defining the relative extent of the Zones in the lagoon under study, and the number of
species and the mean biomass of benthic macrofauna present in each. The three metrics are applied in the index formula and the
resulting number from one to ten indicates increasing environmental quality. The authors have validated the index by applying it to two
lagoons, Lesina and Varano (S.Adriatic, Italy).
Index ? considers combined anthropogenic (pollution) and natural factors (prohibitive salinity, anoxia, toxic blooms, isolation from
sea, etc.) of deterioration. The method is based on the principle of indicator species and on the conceptual scheme developed by Frisoni
et al. (1984) according to which there are six possible sub-assemblages (Zones) of benthic macrofauna, each indicating a different level
of environmental quality. The procedure requires defining the relative extent of the Zones in the lagoon under study, and the number of
species and the mean biomass of benthic macrofauna present in each. The three metrics are applied in the index formula and the
resulting number from one to ten indicates increasing environmental quality. The authors have validated the index by applying it to two
lagoons, Lesina and Varano (S.Adriatic, Italy).
Iris type:
01.01 Articolo in rivista
List of contributors:
Breber, Paolo; Cilenti, Lucrezia; Scirocco, Tommaso; Specchiulli, Antonietta
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