Benthic macrophytes as a tool for delineating, monitoring and assessing ecological status: The case of Slovenian coastal waters

Benthic macrophytes from 51 sites in the upper infralittoral zone along the Slovenian rocky coast were sampled (randomly stratified) in order to (1) confirm water body (WB) boundaries, (2) select sampling points for a surveillance monitoring programme, and (3) assess preliminary Ecological Status Cl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2008-04, Vol.56 (4), p.666-676
Main Authors: Orlando-Bonaca, Martina, Lipej, Lovrenc, Orfanidis, Sotiris
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Cluster Analysis
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Ecological Evaluation Index – EEI
Ecological status
Ecology - methods
Ecosystem
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Eukaryota - physiology
European water framework directive
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Macroalgae
Marine and brackish environment
Mediterranean
Monitoring
Oceans and Seas
Population Density
Slovenia
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Benthic macrophytes from 51 sites in the upper infralittoral zone along the Slovenian rocky coast were sampled (randomly stratified) in order to (1) confirm water body (WB) boundaries, (2) select sampling points for a surveillance monitoring programme, and (3) assess preliminary Ecological Status Classes (ESC) within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Coverage data of macrophytes were analyzed by using cluster analysis, Simper analysis and the Ecological Evaluation Index (EEI). The vegetation was rather homogenously classified into two Cystoseiretum crinitae subassociations: Halopithetosum incurvae, and Cystoseiretosum compressae, and into Cystoseiretum barbatae association. Seven monitoring sites at a kilometer scale were selected in two significant sized WBs following the mixing zone principle and the EEI successional model. The preliminary assessment of the ESC with the EEI was in agreement with existing human pressures in the area. In view of the present results, benthic macrophytes and EEI could be valuable tools for the implementation of the WFD within the Mediterranean eco-region.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.12.018