Abstract
For the first time, the distribution and modifications of living ostracod associations present in the Gulf of Trieste (GoT) in relation to alterations caused by human activity in the last 20 years were investigated. The results were compared with the main physicochemical parameters (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) measured over the same period, which can lead to a general decrease in environmental quality. For a more in-depth analysis of the changes recorded by ostracods in the last 50 years, a period in which eutrophication and anoxia increased, we revisited the study carried out by Masoli in the GoT in 1967. The results obtained made it possible to verify how, over the last 20 years, ostracod assemblages have suffered a decrease both qualitatively and quantitatively. Most of the species recovered show characteristics of opportunism and tolerance to environmentally stressful conditions, high organic matter concentrations, and oxygen deficiency. The ostracods analyzed in 1967 showed similar results with few dominant opportunistic species. We verified how ostracods recorded in GoT, similar to Mollusks and Foraminifera, have been impaired by the possible environmental crisis linked to the recurrence of mucilage and hypoxic events documented for the GoT in the last 50 years. Finally, a comparison with the best environmental conditions found in the Marine Nature Reserve of Miramare (MPA) allowed us to emphasize the important role of protected areas to avoid loss of biodiversity due to urbanization.
Highlights
Urbanization is one of the main causes of species extinction [1]
We examined the ostracod population in the Gulf of Trieste (GoT) over the last 20 years by applying an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct and evaluate the recent history of the impact of urbanization on communities of these small crustaceans
Dominant species in the GTCrB samples are Aurila convexa, Carinocythereis whitei, Cytheridea neapolitana, Leptocythere ramosa, Loxoconcha ovulata, Pseudopsammocythere similis, Pterygocythereis jonesii, Semicytherura incongruens, while in GTCrC they are outnumbered by A. convexa, L. ovulata, Loxoconcha rhomboidea, S. incongruens, Xestoleberis communis, and Xestoleberis dispar (Figure A1)
Summary
Urbanization is one of the main causes of species extinction [1]. The expansion and growth of anthropic activities decrease biological diversity because the same “urban-adaptable” species become widespread and locally abundant across several ecosystems [2,3]. The need to start efficient mitigation activities to assess and manage the negative impacts of urbanization on natural habitats (i.e., to reduce urban footprints and to preserve habitats in urbanized areas) has highlighted the importance of investigating recent anthropic impact and the response of contiguous marine ecosystems. In this context, the Gulf of Trieste (GoT) represents a suitable area to investigate recent human impact on a coastal marine environment, as this area has been densely urbanized over a long period and subject to agricultural activities in the inland Friulian Plain. The presence of wastewater discharge and riverine inputs have caused episodes of anoxia [10] similar to those observed in other coastal areas [5,11,12,13]
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