Effects of long-term dumping of harbor-dredged material on macrozoobenthos at four disposal sites along the Emilia-Romagna coast (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy)

Sediment from harbors of the Emilia-Romagna (Northern Adriatic Sea) were dredged and dumped in four disposal areas characterized by muddy bottoms. The long-term effects of the dumping on macrozoobenthic communities were investigated before and after 6 month, 8 month, 2 years and 4 years. The disposa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2005-12, Vol.50 (12), p.1595-1605
Main Authors: Simonini, R., Ansaloni, I., Cavallini, F., Graziosi, F., Iotti, M., Massamba N’Siala, G., Mauri, M., Montanari, G., Preti, M., Prevedelli, D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biodiversity
Biological and medical sciences
Carbon - analysis
Dumping
Ecosystem
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Harbor dredging
Invertebrates - classification
Invertebrates - growth & development
Italy
Macrozoobenthos
Marine and brackish environment
Marine Biology
Multivariate Analysis
Northern Adriatic Sea
Oceans and Seas
Particle Size
Population Dynamics
Refuse Disposal
Sustainability
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Summary:Sediment from harbors of the Emilia-Romagna (Northern Adriatic Sea) were dredged and dumped in four disposal areas characterized by muddy bottoms. The long-term effects of the dumping on macrozoobenthic communities were investigated before and after 6 month, 8 month, 2 years and 4 years. The disposal of dredged material did not influence the granulometry and %TOC in the sediment, and no alterations in the structure of the macrobenthic communities were observed in the four areas. The lack of impact could be ascribed to the environmental characteristics and precautionary measures taken to minimize the effects of the dumping. It appears that: (1) the communities of the dumping areas are well adapted to unstable environments; (2) the sediments were disposed gradually and homogeneously over relatively large areas; Other factors that help to reduce the impact of sediment disposal are the low concentrations of contaminants in dredged materials and the similarity of sediment in the dredged and disposal areas. Off-shore discharge appears a sustainable strategy for the management of uncontaminated dredged sediments from the Northern Adriatic Sea harbors.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2005.06.031