Benthic Foraminifera as bio-indicators of anthropogenic impacts in coastal environments: Acqua dei Corsari area case study (Palermo, Italy).
This study investigates living benthic foraminiferal assemblages as bio-indicators of anthropogenic activities in a coastal area within the Gulf of Palermo (Sicily, Italy), affected by industrial and urban activities, and evaluates the environmental quality through the calibration of a Tolerant Species index (%TSstd). Sediments from 6 stations were sampled along a bathymetric transect from the coast to offshore. Sediment grain size, TOC, major, minor and trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were compared to benthic foraminiferal assemblages and species at each station. Diversity and density of benthic foraminiferal assemblages were not affected by the presence of pollutants, while tolerant species increased with organic (TOC and PAHs) or chemical (As and Pb) concentrations. Moreover, the calibration of the %TSstdformula to >125μm foraminiferal assemblage, gives a detailed description of environmental quality along the transect, representing a good and sensitive tool to evaluate marine coastal environment.
Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: marianna.musco@iamc.cnr.it.
Marianna
M
Musco
Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: angela.cuttitta@iamc.cnr.it.
Angela
A
Cuttitta
Esaip La Salle, 18 Rue du 8 Mai 1945, CS 80022, 49180 St Barthélemy d'Anjou Cedex, France; LPG-BIAF-UMR6112, Université d'Angers, France. Electronic address: ebicchi@esaip.org.
Erica
E
Bicchi
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: enza.quinci@iamc.cnr.it.
Enza Maria
EM
Quinci
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: mario.sprovieri@iamc.cnr.it.
Mario
M
Sprovieri
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: giorgio.tranchida@iamc.cnr.it.
Giorgio
G
Tranchida
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: luigi.giaramita@iamc.cnr.it.
Luigi
L
Giaramita
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: anna.traina@iamc.cnr.it.
Anna
A
Traina
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Capo Granitola, 3 Via del Mare, 91021, Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Tp, Italy. Electronic address: daniela.salvagio@iamc.cnr.it.
Daniela
D
Salvagio Manta
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Naples, Calata Porta di Massa, 80133 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: serena.gherardi@iamc.cnr.it.
Serena
S
Gherardi
AMAP s.p.a., 2 Via Volturno, 90138 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: pietro.mercurio@amapspa.it.
Pietro
P
Mercurio
AMAP s.p.a., 2 Via Volturno, 90138 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: angelo.siragusa@amapspa.it.
Angelo
A
Siragusa
Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council (IAMC-CNR), Section of Naples, Calata Porta di Massa, 80133 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: salvatore.mazzola@iamc.cnr.it.
Salvatore
S
Mazzola
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D056908:Foraminifera; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007558:Italy; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
Benthic Foraminifera; Bioindicators; Marine pollutants; Sicily; Tolerant species index