Assessment of Posidonia Oceanica (L.) Delile conservation status by standard and putative approaches the case study of Santa Marinella meadow (Italy, W Mediterranean)英文文献资料.docVIP

Vol.1, No.2, 48-56 (2011) Open Journal of Ecology /10.4236/oje.2011.12006 Assessment of Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile conservation status by standard and putative approaches: the case study of Santa Marinella meadow (Italy, W Mediterranean)* 1 2 3 Alice Rotini , Carla Micheli , Luigi Valiante , Luciana Migliore 1* 1 2 3 Department Biology, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy; *Corresponding Author: luciana.migliore@uniroma2.it ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, Rome, Italy; ECON s.r.l., Naples, Italy; Received 10 June 2011; revised 4 July 2011; accepted 15 July 2011. ABSTRACT 1. INTRODUCTION Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile (PO) is the dominant endemic seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea, where it forms meadows which play a crucial role in coastal ecosystem dynamics. They produce high amount of oxygen and organic compounds, sustain food nets, and act as a nursery/refuge for several species. Furthermore they preserve coastal systems trapping sediments into the matte and reducing hydrodynamics [1]. PO is re- garded as a key species, being listed in the Habitat Di- rective 92/43/EEC. Throughout most of the Mediterranean Sea, natural processes and human activities are responsible for a widespread PO meadow regression [2-3]. The identifica- tion of ‘new diagnostic tools’ to monitor the meadows conservation status is a critical issue. Standard monitor- ing indicators are several [4-10]; according to Montefal- cone [11] standard monitoring indicators can be classified as structural descriptors at individual level (shoot phenology and biomass), at population level (bed density and coverage) or at community level (leaves epiphytes). However, many of them suffer of a lack in sensitivity and often to obtain significant information it’s necessary to use a combination/integration of indicators [12].