title: The role of large marine vertebrates in the assessment of the quality of pelagic marine ecosystems.
abstract: The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy has been developed and is being implemented, with the objective to deliver "Good Environmental Status" by 2020. A pragmatic way forward has been achieved through the development of 11 "qualitative descriptors". In an attempt to identify gaps in MSFD, regarding the data on large marine vertebrates, the SETAC--Italian Branch organised a workshop in Siena (IT). Particular attention was paid to the qualitative descriptors 8 (contaminants and pollution effects) and 10 (marine litter). The specific remit was to discuss the potential use of large marine vertebrates (from large pelagic fish, sea turtles, sea birds and cetaceans) in determining the environmental status of pelagic marine ecosystems. During the workshop it emerged that large pelagic fish may be especially useful for monitoring short- to medium-term changes in pelagic ecosystems, while cetaceans provided a more integrated view over the long-term. A theme that strongly emerged was the broad recognition that biomarkers offer real potential for the determination of good ecological status detecting the "undesirable biological effects" (indicator for descriptor 8).
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy. fossi@unisi.it
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fossi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caliani
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panti
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viarengo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giangreco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Notarbartolo di Sciara
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serena
authors.forename: Atef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ouerghi
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Depledge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers