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Animal-sediment relationships: Evaluating the 'Pearson-Rosenberg paradigm' in Mediterranean coastal lagoons
Magni, P.; Tagliapietra, D.; Lardicci, C.; Balthis, L.; Castelli, A.; Como, S.; Frangipane, G.; Giordani, G.; Hyland, J.; Maltagliati, F.; Pessa, G.; Rismondo, A.; Tataranni, M.; Tomassetti, P.; Viaroli, P. (2009). Animal-sediment relationships: Evaluating the 'Pearson-Rosenberg paradigm' in Mediterranean coastal lagoons. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 58(4): 478-486. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.12.009
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: MarBEF Open Archive 147284 [ download pdf ]

Keywords
    Benthic communities
    Eutrophication
    Indicators
    Macrobenthos
    Water bodies > Lagoons > Coastal lagoons
    MED, Mediterranean [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Macrobenthos; Ecological indicators; Eutrophication; Benthic diversity;Coastal lagoons; Mediterranean Sea

Authors  Top 
  • Magni, P.
  • Tagliapietra, D.
  • Lardicci, C.
  • Balthis, L.
  • Castelli, A.
  • Como, S.
  • Frangipane, G.
  • Giordani, G.
  • Hyland, J.
  • Maltagliati, F.
  • Pessa, G.
  • Rismondo, A.
  • Tataranni, M.
  • Tomassetti, P.
  • Viaroli, P.

Abstract
    We investigated the applicability of the Pearson–Rosenberg (P–R) conceptual model describing a generalized pattern of response of benthic communities in relation to organic enrichment to Mediterranean Sea coastal lagoons. Consistent with P–R model predictions, benthic diversity and abundance showed two different peaks at low (>2.5–5 mg g−1) and high (>25–30 mg g−1) total organic carbon (TOC) ranges, respectively. We identified TOC thresholds indicating that risks of reduced benthic diversity should be relatively low at TOC values < about 10 mg g−1, high at TOC values > about 28 mg g−1, and intermediate at values in-between. Predictive ability within these ranges was high based on results of re-sampling simulation. While not a direct measure of causality, it is anticipated that these TOC thresholds should serve as a general screening-level indicator for evaluating the likelihood of reduced sediment quality and associated bioeffects in such eutrophic systems of the Mediterranean Sea.

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