title: Effects of two offshore gas platforms on soft-bottom benthic communities (northwestern Adriatic Sea, Italy).
abstract: The macrozoobenthos living around two offshore gas platforms, Barbara NW (pB) and Calipso (pC) located in the northwestern Adriatic Sea were investigated for three years after their construction to detect eventual effects due to the platforms. The sampling stations were spaced at increasing distance from the platforms up to 1000 m. Both multivariate and univariate analysis showed an initial defaunation (short-term effect) at pB and within a 120 m radius at pC. A general recovery in terms of abundance, species richness and diversity was observed for the benthic communities after one year. During the third monitoring year a mussel mound developed at both the platforms (longer-term effect) extending up to 30 m from pC, whereas similar soft-bottom communities were found at all the other distances. The geographical position plays an important role in the "timing" of the above effects. Moreover, despite the different environmental features, a 3-year monitoring plan can be effective to evaluate the potential impact on benthic communities of offshore gas platforms in the north-central Adriatic Sea.
authors.affiliation: CNR-Istituto di Scienze Marine, Sede di Ancona, Largo Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy. s.manoukian@ismar.cnr.it
authors.forename: Sarine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manoukian
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarcella
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Punzo
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: Gianna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fabi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005579:Fossil Fuels; D014873:Water Pollutants