| Title | Ecosystem functioning approach applied to a large contaminated coastal site: the study case of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea) |
| Abstract | Knowledge on ecosystem functioning can largely contribute to promote ecosystem-based management and its application. The Mar Piccolo of Taranto is a densely populated area at a high risk of environmental crisis. Here, planktonic primary production (PP) and heterotrophic prokaryotic production (HPP) were measured as proxies of functioning in three sampling sites located in two inlets at different levels of industrial contamination, during three sampling surveys (June 2013, February and April 2014). To have a better overall view and provide some insights into the benthic-pelagic coupling, we integrated PP and HPP in the water column with those in the sediments and then discussed this with the origin of the organic matter pools based on analysis of stable isotopes. Heavy metals and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) were also analysed in the surface (1 cm) sediment layer and related to the overall ecosystem functioning. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis, based on the main data, clearly separated the second inlet from the first one, more severely impacted by anthropogenic activities. The stable isotope mixing model suggested the prevalent terrestrial/riverine origin of the particulate organic matter pools (mean 45.5 %) in all sampling periods, whereas phytoplankton contributed up to 29 % in February. Planktonic PP and HPP rates followed the same pattern over the entire study period and seemed to respond to phytoplankton dynamics confirming this community as the main driver for the C cycling in the water column. On the contrary, benthic PP rates were almost negligible while HPP rates were lower or comparable to those in the water column indicating that although the Mar Piccolo is very shallow, the water column is much more productive than the surface sediments. The sediment resuspension is likely responsible for a pulsed input of contaminants into the water column. However, their interference with the proper functioning of the pelagic ecosystem seems to be limited to the bottom layers. |
| Source | Environmental science and pollution research international 23 (13), pp. 12739–12754 |
| Keywords | Ecosystem functioningPrimary productionHeterotrophic prokaryotic productionC and N stable isotopesBenthic-pelagic couplingSatellite imagery mappingcontamination |
| Journal | Environmental science and pollution research international |
| Editor | Springer, Berlin, Germania |
| Year | 2016 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11356-015-4997-2 |
| Authors | Tamara Cibic, Lucia Bongiorni, Flavio Borfecchia, Antonella Di Leo, Annalisa Franzo, Santina Giandomenico, Ana Karuza, Carla Micheli, Manja Rogelja, Lucia Spada, Paola Del Negro |
| Text | 350738 2016 10.1007/s11356 015 4997 2 Scopus 2 s2.0 84976315484 ISI Web of Science WOS 000378817300018 Ecosystem functioning Primary production Heterotrophic prokaryotic production C and N stable isotopes Benthic pelagic coupling Satellite imagery mapping contamination Ecosystem functioning approach applied to a large contaminated coastal site the study case of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto Ionian Sea Tamara Cibic, Lucia Bongiorni, Flavio Borfecchia, Antonella Di Leo, Annalisa Franzo, Santina Giandomenico, Ana Karuza, Carla Micheli, Manja Rogelja, Lucia Spada, Paola Del Negro OGS Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale , Sezione Oceanografia, Via A. Piccard 54, 34151 Trieste, Italy CNR Istituto di Scienze Marine ISMAR , Arsenale Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venezia, Italy ENEA Research Center Casaccia Roma, C.P. 2400/00123S. Maria di Galeria, Roma, Italy CNR Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque IRSA , 74123 Taranto, Italy Universita di Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, 34127 Trieste, Italy Knowledge on ecosystem functioning can largely contribute to promote ecosystem based management and its application. The Mar Piccolo of Taranto is a densely populated area at a high risk of environmental crisis. Here, planktonic primary production PP and heterotrophic prokaryotic production HPP were measured as proxies of functioning in three sampling sites located in two inlets at different levels of industrial contamination, during three sampling surveys June 2013, February and April 2014 . To have a better overall view and provide some insights into the benthic pelagic coupling, we integrated PP and HPP in the water column with those in the sediments and then discussed this with the origin of the organic matter pools based on analysis of stable isotopes. Heavy metals and polychlorobiphenyls PCBs were also analysed in the surface 1 cm sediment layer and related to the overall ecosystem functioning. Multidimensional scaling MDS analysis, based on the main data, clearly separated the second inlet from the first one, more severely impacted by anthropogenic activities. The stable isotope mixing model suggested the prevalent terrestrial/riverine origin of the particulate organic matter pools mean 45.5 % in all sampling periods, whereas phytoplankton contributed up to 29 % in February. Planktonic PP and HPP rates followed the same pattern over the entire study period and seemed to respond to phytoplankton dynamics confirming this community as the main driver for the C cycling in the water column. On the contrary, benthic PP rates were almost negligible while HPP rates were lower or comparable to those in the water column indicating that although the Mar Piccolo is very shallow, the water column is much more productive than the surface sediments. The sediment resuspension is likely responsible for a pulsed input of contaminants into the water column. However, their interference with the proper functioning of the pelagic ecosystem seems to be limited to the bottom layers. 23 Preprint https //publications.cnr.it/doc/350738 30/06/2015 Ecosystem functioning approach applied to a large contaminated coastal site the study case of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto Ionian Sea file pdf Cibic2016_.pdf Ecosystem functioning approach applied to a large contaminated coastal site the study case of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto Ionian Sea pre print, versione autori prima dell accettazione della rivista ESPR D 15 01497 1.pdf Articolo in rivista Springer 0944 1344 Environmental science and pollution research international Environmental science and pollution research international Environ. sci. pollut. res. int. Environmental science and pollution research international. Environmental science and pollution research international Print Environmental science and pollution research Print ESPR Print antonella.dileo DI LEO ANTONELLA santina.giandomenico GIANDOMENICO SANTINA lucia.spada SPADA LUCIA lucia.bongiorni BONGIORNI LUCIA |
