title: Assessment of the ecological status of transitional waters in Sicily (Italy): first characterisation and classification according to a multiparametric approach.
abstract: A 1-year cycle of observations was performed in four Sicilian transitional water systems (Oliveri-Tindari, Cape Peloro, Vendicari and Marsala) to characterise their ecological status. A panel of variables among which trophic and microbial (enzyme activities, abundance of hetetrophic bacteria and of bacterial pollution indicators) parameters, were selected. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) contents defined the trophic state, while microbial hydrolysis rates and abundance gave insights on microbial community efficiency in organic matter transformation and on allochthonous inputs. To classify the trophic state of examined waters, the synthetic trophic state index (TRIX) was calculated. Microbial hydrolysis rates correlated positively with POC and Chl-a, which increased along the eutrophication gradient. The significant relationships among TRIX, trophic and microbial parameters suggested the use of leucine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and POC as suitable parameters to implement the Water Framework Directive when assessing the ecological status of transitional water systems.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Spianata S. Raineri, 98122 Messina, Italy. gabriella.caruso@iamc.cnr.it
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Monticelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Decembrini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azzaro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crisafi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zappalà
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergamasco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vizzini
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D012802:Sicily; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical