Regional cooperation in the Mediterranean sea: joint analysis of macrobenthic assemblages in the lagoons of Mellah (Algeria) and Cabras (Italy)

Matching datasets of abiotic and biotic variables from two Mediterranean coastal lagoons, the Mellah lagoon (Algeria) and the Cabras lagoon (Italy), were merged to evaluate general environmental conditions and to compare the year-round changes in macrobenthic assemblages. Major differences between the two lagoons appear to be related to more pristine conditions in the Mellah lagoon, while the Cabras lagoon tends to be subjected to human-related disturbance and impoverishment of macrobenthos in the warm period. This joint effort aims to encourage the implementation of scientific collaboration among northern and southern countries in the Mediterranean Sea.