title: The first assessment of marine debris in a Site of Community Importance in the north-western Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea).
abstract: At present, few studies have investigated the marine litter abundance, composition and distribution on rocky bottoms due to sampling constraints. We surveyed by means of the ROV imaging technique a system of biogenic rocky outcrops classified as a Site of Community Importance in the Adriatic Sea. A mean density of 3.3 (±1.8) items/100m2was recorded, with a strong dominance of fishing- and aquaculture-related debris, accounting for 69.4% and 18.9% of the total, respectively. The abundance of litter over the rocky bottoms was significantly higher than that on soft substrates, and its spatial distribution proved to be related to hydrographic factors. Litter-fauna interactions were high, with most of the debris (65.7%) entangling or covering benthic organisms, in particular habitat constructors such as the endangered sea sponge Geodia cydonium. Unless appropriate measures are undertaken to address this problem, the abundance of marine litter in the area is likely to increase.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Loc. Brondolo, 30015 Chioggia, VE, Italy. Electronic address: valentina.melli@isprambiente.it.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Melli
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 60, 00145 Rome, RM, Italy. Electronic address: michela.angiolillo@isprambiente.it.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angiolillo
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Loc. Brondolo, 30015 Chioggia, VE, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.ronchi@isprambiente.it.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 60, 00145 Rome, RM, Italy. Electronic address: simonepietro.canese@isprambiente.it.
authors.forename: Simonepietro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canese
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Loc. Brondolo, 30015 Chioggia, VE, Italy; Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), Largo Fiera della Pesca 2, 60125 Ancona, AN, Italy. Electronic address: otello.giovanardi@isprambiente.it.
authors.forename: Otello
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Giovanardi
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c, 34010 Sgonico, TS, Italy. Electronic address: squerin@inogs.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Querin
authors.affiliation: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Loc. Brondolo, 30015 Chioggia, VE, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c, 34010 Sgonico, TS, Italy. Electronic address: tomaso.fortibuoni@isprambiente.it.
authors.forename: Tomaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fortibuoni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes / Q000254:growth & development; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Derelict fishing gear; Habitats directive; Marine litter; Remotely operated vehicle; Rocky outcrops; Tegnùe