title: Description of a Multimetric Phytoplankton Index (MPI) for the assessment of transitional waters.
abstract: A Multimetric Phytoplankton Index (MPI) is proposed to support management policies for the assessment of transitional ecosystems and the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. The MPI incorporates Hulburt's dominance index, bloom frequency and Menhinick's diversity index, calculated on the basis of phytoplankton species composition. Chlorophyll a concentrations were also included, to provide biomass data and to guarantee continuity and comparison with past evaluations. The MPI was calculated by averaging the ratios of the resulting values of each metric to those of a reference site characterised by low anthropogenic impact. The MPI was set up using data from over a 10-year period in several stations in Venice Lagoon (North-western Adriatic region), a highly valuable and heterogeneous transitional environment, subject to significant anthropogenic pressures. The dataset included physico-chemical data, nutrient and contaminant concentrations. Statistical analyses allowed us to gauge the MPI's responses to anthropogenic pressures and to verify its reliability.
authors.affiliation: DAIS, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy. Electronic address: facca@unive.it.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Facca
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR CNR), Arsenale-Tesa 104 Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernardi Aubry
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR CNR), Arsenale-Tesa 104 Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Socal
authors.affiliation: ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Loc. Brondolo, 30015 Chioggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ponis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR CNR), Arsenale-Tesa 104 Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acri
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR CNR), Arsenale-Tesa 104 Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Via Brancati 60, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giovanardi
authors.affiliation: DAIS, University Ca' Foscari Venice, Dorsoduro 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sfriso
mesh_terms: D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Ecological index; Multimetric phytoplankton index; Phytoplankton; Transitional waters; Venice Lagoon