Abstract
The availability of quantitative long term datasets on the phytobenthic assemblages of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea), a lagoon like semi-enclosed coastal basin included in the Italian LTER network, enabled careful analysis of changes occurring in the structure of the community over about thirty years. The total number of taxa differed over the years. Thirteen non-indigenous species in total were found, their number varied over the years, reaching its highest value in 2017. The dominant taxa differed over the years. The number of species in each taxonomic division also varied. In addition to the centuries-old exploitation of its biotic resources, mainly molluscs, the basin has been subject for a long time to a range of anthropogenic driving forces linked to urbanisation, shipbuilding, agriculture and military activities, which have caused chemical and biological pollution, eutrophication and habitat destruction. It may therefore be assumed that these changes were closely related to human activities. Indeed, it was observed that the reduction of only one of these forces, i.e. urban sewage discharge, triggered the recovery of phytobenthos. Therefore, it may be assumed that if the anthropogenic pressure on the Mar Piccolo was eased, it could once again become the paradisiacal place it was held to be in ancient times.
Highlights
Human beings play a fundamental role in the ongoing degradation of coastal marine ecosystems (Bianchi et al 2014)
long-term ecological research (LTER) observations make it possible to detect the natural variability of ecological systems and the interaction between abiotic and biotic variables, as well as the effects on the environment of human activities (Kratz et al 2003)
In the Mar Piccolo, comparison of the situation dating back about thirty years and the results of the recent seven-year study show that qualitative and quantitative changes have occurred in the phytobenthic community and are ongoing
Summary
Human beings play a fundamental role in the ongoing degradation of coastal marine ecosystems (Bianchi et al 2014). Coastal lagoons and transitional water systems (TWSs) generally are frequently chosen for human activities, due to their physicochemical and biocoenotic features. The main anthropogenic forcing factors are aquaculture, fishing and shipping, as well as tourism and recreation (Newton et al 2014), with eutrophication and chemical pollution the most important effects on the environment (Pérez-Ruzafa et al 2011a). Biological pollution, caused by the introduction of non-indigenous species (NISs), has become a significant issue in TWSs (Lotze et al 2006). Extensive knowledge of the biotic and abiotic components of these systems is necessary, as well as an understanding of the cause-effect relationship between anthropogenic processes and environmental feedback (Pérez-Ruzafa et al 2011a)
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