Abstract
Coastal lagoon types of Western Greece were allocated to a spectrum of meso to polyhaline chocked lagoons; poly to euhaline restricted lagoons; and euhaline restricted lagoons along the Ionian Sea coast. This diversity comprises wide ranges of physical, chemical and environmental parameters in a seasonal and annual scale, which explains the variability in the distribution of benthic macrophytes. Four different macrophyte assemblages were distinguished, characterized by annual or perennial species. Extensive statistical analysis showed that salinity and nitrate concentrations had a great impact on the composition and distribution of macrophyte assemblages into lagoon types that also changed their abundance on a seasonal and annual scale. During the monitoring period, an important salinity shift in a chocked lagoon might cause the gradual loss of Zostera noltii and its replacement by Ruppia cirrhosa. Restricted lagoons were characterized by higher species diversity, while the other three identified macrophyte assemblages were dominated by the angiosperms Ruppia cirrhosa and Cymodocea nodosa. This integrated study of coastal lagoons is likely to be broadly applicable, since it was based on important parameters affecting such ecosystems, and the provided links between macrophyte assemblages and abiotic factors are of critical importance to improve management and environmental policies.
Highlights
Coastal lagoons are dynamic ecosystems characterized by shallow waters isolated from the open sea by the presence of coastal barriers
A classification approach of coastal lagoons of Western Greece was conducted by Christia et al [9] who revealed four different types, based on criteria defined by the system B of WFD 2000/60/EE and other descriptors indicated as either
Water temperature in coastal lagoon types did not show significant differences and followed the typical pattern which is generally characterized by highest values during the dry period
Summary
Coastal lagoons are dynamic ecosystems characterized by shallow waters isolated from the open sea by the presence of coastal barriers. They represent an ecotone between marine, fresh-water, and terrestrial ecosystems showing some typical characteristics of all these types [1]. These characteristics often result in considerable seasonal changes of environmental variables (e.g., temperature, salinity) and large fluctuations in chemical parameters with consequences to many resident species [2,3,4]. A classification approach of coastal lagoons of Western Greece was conducted by Christia et al [9] who revealed four different types, based on criteria defined by the system B of WFD 2000/60/EE and other descriptors indicated as either
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