Ariani, Wittmann & Gaviria 2016
Ariani, Wittmann & Gaviria 2016
ARIANI, A.P., K.J. WITTMANN & S. GAVIRIA, 2016. Variazioni recenti nel popolamento zoobentonico di un ambiente salmastro della costa Ionica della Puglia, e relative possibili cause [Recent changes in the zoobenthos of a brackish environment at the Ionian coast of Apulia, and their possible reasons]. Atti della Accademia Pontaniana, N.S., 64 (2015): 155-172.
Recent changes in the zoobenthos of a brackish environment at the Ionian coast of Apulia, and their possible reasons. - The artificial pond “Sette Nani” is a small, brackish lagoon on the Ionian coast of Apulia (southern Italy), about 50 km SE of Taranto. Its environmental characteristics were studied (Ariani & Wittmann, 2014) in the frame of investigation on ecology and breeding biology of the Mysida species Diamysis cymodoceae Wittmann & Ariani, 2012. In 2012-2015 the main other benthic, faunal components were also investigated. This showed a marked, progressive rarefaction of certain taxa (including Diamysis), but a strong increase of others, particularly Copepoda, Ostracoda, Isopoda, Tanaidacea, and Gastropoda. In general, particularly in the case of the copepod species Calanipeda aquaedulcis Kritchagin, 1873, the extraordinary population growth coincided with the massive appearance of a filiform green alga which quickly covered large parts of rock substrata: in fact, most animals were sampled inside the algal network, which they may have used for avoidance of predation. The algal bloom is discussed, therefore, in relation to its mechanical, protective effects for certain benthic elements such as copepods and isopods; moreover, as expression of an eutrophication process, also suggested by the findings of Chironomidae (Diptera) larvae, and probably indicative of human pollution.
ecology; first record; distribution; brackish water; Ionian Sea; southern Italy
Calanipeda aquaedulcis; Diamysis cymodoceae; Dicentrarchus labrax; Gammaridae; Gammarus aequicauda; Gastropoda; Hydrobia ventrosa; Isopoda; Lekanesphaera hookeri; Mysida; Palaemonetes antennarius; Polychaeta; Siriella gracilipes; Tanaidacea; Tanais dulongii