title: Ecological assessment of a heavily human-stressed area in the Gulf of Milazzo, Central Mediterranean Sea: an integrated study of biological, physical and chemical indicators.
abstract: Marine environmental disturbance can be assessed directly from physical and chemical parameters, or indirectly by the study of indicator species. In this study, an integrated approach to monitor the Gulf of Milazzo, labeled as a highly contaminated site, is presented. A total of 83 samples were collected from hard and soft bottoms in 2010. In sum, 2739 specimens belonging to 246 taxa, two first records for the Tyrrhenian Sea (Micronephthys stammeri and Nicomache lumbricalis) and three nonindigenous species (Brachidontes pharaonis, Crassostrea gigas and Notomastus aberans) were recorded. Biodiversity and biotic indices and their relationship with sediment parameters and the level of pollutants were assessed to describe faunal assemblage and evaluate environmental quality. Pearson tests evidenced significant negative correlation between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and specific richness (p<0.10). A comparison of the standard and recorded biotic values showed that M-AMBI seems to be the index more representative of ecological quality status (EcoQ) in the Gulf of Milazzo. No evident signs were highlighted on the complex.
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo, Via dei Mille, 46-98057 Milazzo, Messina, Italy; Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166 S. Agata, Messina, Italy. Electronic address: mdalessandro@unime.it.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo, Via dei Mille, 46-98057 Milazzo, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166 S. Agata, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giacobbe
authors.affiliation: Bioscience Research Center, Via Aurelia Vecchia, 32-58015 Orbetello, Grosseto, Italy.
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Renzi
authors.affiliation: IAMC-CNR, Via del Mare 3, 91021 Capo Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo, Via dei Mille, 46-98057 Milazzo, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vivona
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo, Via dei Mille, 46-98057 Milazzo, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierpaolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Consoli
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo, Via dei Mille, 46-98057 Milazzo, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scotti
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, c/o Marbela Residence, via Salvatore Puglisi 9, 90143 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andaloro
authors.affiliation: ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo, Via dei Mille, 46-98057 Milazzo, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Romeo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D004463:Ecology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D011077:Polychaeta; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biotic index; Central Mediterranean Sea; Ecological assessment; Nonindigenous species; Sediment pollution