Assessment of the ecological status of transitional waters in Sicily (Italy): first characterisation and classification according to a multiparametric approach

Marine Pollution Bulletin
G CarusoS Vizzini

Abstract

A 1-year cycle of observations was performed in four Sicilian transitional water systems (Oliveri-Tindari, Cape Peloro, Vendicari and Marsala) to characterise their ecological status. A panel of variables among which trophic and microbial (enzyme activities, abundance of hetetrophic bacteria and of bacterial pollution indicators) parameters, were selected. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) contents defined the trophic state, while microbial hydrolysis rates and abundance gave insights on microbial community efficiency in organic matter transformation and on allochthonous inputs. To classify the trophic state of examined waters, the synthetic trophic state index (TRIX) was calculated. Microbial hydrolysis rates correlated positively with POC and Chl-a, which increased along the eutrophication gradient. The significant relationships among TRIX, trophic and microbial parameters suggested the use of leucine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and POC as suitable parameters to implement the Water Framework Directive when assessing the ecological status of transitional water systems.

References

Dec 21, 2000·Journal of Applied Microbiology·G Caruso, R Zaccone
Oct 24, 2006·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Michelle DevlinDavid Haynes
Apr 4, 2008·Marine Pollution Bulletin·G Cognetti, F Maltagliati

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Citations

Oct 1, 2011·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Michael Karydis, Dimitra Kitsiou
Aug 2, 2014·Marine Pollution Bulletin·Chrysoula ChristiaEva Papastergiadou
Sep 13, 2018·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Chunlei SongGabriella Caruso
Sep 22, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Monia RenziMilva Pepi

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