Macrozoobenthos associato alle reste di una mitilicoltura offshore (Adriatico settentrionale)

The macrozoobenthos associated to the strings of an offshore mussel culture (Northern Adriatic Sea) was seasonally collected from summer 2001 to winter 2002. Most of the observed species were typical of hard bottoms or ecological linked to the mussels. This suggests that in this area mussel cultures may provide a suitable habitat for the settlement of a fauna which is rare or absent on the natural soft bottoms.