title: Assessing environmental quality status by integrating chemical and biological effect data: The Cartagena coastal zone as a case.
abstract: Cartagena coastal zone (W Mediterranean) was chosen for a practical case study to investigate the suitability of an integrated indicator framework for marine monitoring and assessment of chemicals and their effects, which was developed by ICES and OSPAR. Red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were selected as target species. Concentrations of contaminants in sediment and biota, and contaminant-related biomarkers were analysed. To assess environmental quality in the Cartagena coastal zone with respect to chemical pollution, data were assessed using available assessment criteria, and then integrated for different environmental matrices. A qualitative scoring method was used to rank the overall assessments into selected categories and to evaluate the confidence level of the final integrated assessment. The ICES/OSPAR integrated assessment framework, originally designed for the North Atlantic, was found to be applicable for Mediterranean species and environmental matrices. Further development of assessment criteria of chemical and biological parameters in sediments and target species from the Mediterranean will, however, be required before this framework can be fully applied for determining Good Environmental Status (GES) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in these regions.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Varadero 1, PO BOX 22, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), Spain. Electronic address: concepcion.martinez@mu.ieo.es.
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Varadero 1, PO BOX 22, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), Spain. Electronic address: bfernandezgalindo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, UK. Electronic address: Craig.Robinson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
authors.forename: Craig D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Varadero 1, PO BOX 22, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), Spain. Electronic address: juan.campillo@mu.ieo.es.
authors.forename: J Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Campillo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Varadero 1, PO BOX 22, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), Spain. Electronic address: victor.leon@mu.ieo.es.
authors.forename: Víctor M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: León
authors.affiliation: Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Oceanographic Centre of Murcia, Varadero 1, PO BOX 22, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), Spain. Electronic address: nanebenedicto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benedicto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066, Blindern, N0316 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: ketil.hylland@ibv.uio.no.
authors.forename: Ketil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hylland
authors.affiliation: VU University Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Deltares, Marine and Coastal Systems, P.O. Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: dick.vethaak@deltares.nl.
authors.forename: A Dick
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Vethaak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D049878:Mytilus / Q000502:physiology*; D010473:Perciformes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biomonitoring; Chemical pollution; Good Environmental Status; Integrated assessment; MSFD; Mullus barbatus; Mytilus galloprovincialis; Sublethal effects; Western Mediterranean