This study presents a biotic index (?) for measuring environmental quality in the coastal lagoons of the Mediterranean.Index ? considers combined anthropogenic (pollution) and natural factors (prohibitive salinity, anoxia, toxic blooms, isolation fromsea, etc.) of deterioration. The method is based on the principle of indicator species and on the conceptual scheme developed by Frisoniet al. (1984) according to which there are six possible sub-assemblages (Zones) of benthic macrofauna, each indicating a different levelof environmental quality. The procedure requires defining the relative extent of the Zones in the lagoon under study, and the number ofspecies and the mean biomass of benthic macrofauna present in each. The three metrics are applied in the index formula and theresulting number from one to ten indicates increasing environmental quality. The authors have validated the index by applying it to twolagoons, Lesina and Varano (S.Adriatic, Italy).

With a worldwide increase in shellfish aquaculture and awareness towards sustainable practices, this paper provides a method based on bioindicators for identifying a suitable site for rearing the carpet clam Tapes decussatus in a lagoon of the South Adriatic coast of Italy (Varano lagoon). Although the species is naturally widespread in Italian coastal lagoons, it was in fact absent from Varano lagoon. However, we would like to judge whether Varano lagoon offered a suitable habitat for farming this clam when no local wild population could give us a clue. We applied the indirect method of investigating the indicator species for this purpose. We sampled the benthic macrofauna of Varano lagoon for the presence of species known to be sympatric with the carpet clam, based on our judgement on the bionomic classification of Frisoni et al. (1984). The data analysis on the presence/absence of benthic indicators shows that Varano lagoon is divided into three Zones from among those described by Frisoni. The existence of two areas with the characteristics of a Zone III fulfilled the first prerequisite of our working hypothesis. In October 2002, N° 50,000 seed clams were placed in the park in Zone III. The clams grew from 16 to 35 mm in 21 months with growth concentrated in summer with lost of 20%.

The aims of this study were to analyse sediment characteristics and macrobenthic assemblages in two very close Italian coastal lagoons (Lesina and Varano) and to assess the different behaviour between the two basins and the relationship between sediment matrix and benthic organisms within and between the two lagoons. The comparative study was performed in July 2007 at 13 sampling sites in Lesina lagoon and 15 sites in Varano basin for sediment grain size, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and macrobenthic structure analyses. Both lagoons were generally dominated by fine-grained sediments (clay and silt components). The average contents of TOC and TN measured in Lesina was higher than in Varano (3.31% vs 2.52% for TOC and 5,200 mu g center dot g (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) vs 3,713 mu g center dot g (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) for TN); in contrast, the TP was lower (540 mu g center dot g (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) vs 620 mu g center dot g (-aEuro parts per thousand 1)). Based on macrobenthic community patterns, the central zone in Varano lagoon and the eastern area in Lesina lagoon were characterised by the lowest abundance (168.7 ind center dot m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2) and 503.2 ind center dot m (-aEuro parts per thousand 2), respectively) and by the lowest number of species, as highlighted by the diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener, H (') range was 0.47-1.45 for Lesina and 0.00-1.68 for Varano; Margalef species richness, d range was 0.00-1.67 for Lesina lagoon and 0.00-2.38 for Varano basin). Ordination diagrams suggested an influence of marine and freshwater inputs on the sediment distribution in Varano lagoon and on macrobenthic assemblages in Lesina lagoon.

The concentrations of 16 PAHs in surface sediments collected from four Italian lagoons, exploited for aquaculture and fishing activities, during the period 2004-2007, were analysed. Some molecular ratios and Pearson correlations were used in order to estimate the origin of the pollution and similar transport of PAH sources. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis were used in order to highlight dissimilarities among sampling sites. Concentrations of total 16 PAHs varied significantly among the lagoons as well as within the same basin. Sediments of Orbetello lagoon showed the highest level of contamination (mean of 98.78 ng g1), followed by that in Santa Giusta (48.15 ng g1), Lesina (31.06 ng g1) and Varano (25.19 ng g1). These results were linked to the greater industrialisation and urbanisation of the catchment area of both Orbetello and Santa Giusta compared with Lesina and Varano. A considerable predominance of 4-rings PAHs was observed for Lesina (52%,), Varano (77%), Orbetello (50%) and Santa Giusta (57%) and Pyrene was the dominant compound. On the other hand, phenanthrene is the dominant compound of low molecular weight contaminants for all the studied lagoons. A meaningful pyrolytic contribution to pollution was found in the sediments of Lesina lagoon, dominated by benzo[a]pyrene (7.27 ng g1) and benz[a]anthracene (4.14 ng g1), due to intensive traffic. For Varano, an evident petrogenic contamination was observed along the western area, due probably to accidental oil spillage. All 16 PAHs were found to be correlated in Orbetello and Santa Giusta lagoons and the compounds present in Santa Giusta sediments, near the urban centre, were shown to be mainly of pyrolytic origin. A much more complex situation was observed in Orbetello, where a mixed pattern of pyrolytic and petrogenic inputs was observed.

The results presented in this work are part of a pilot project aimed at the evaluation of the potential biodiesel production from algal biomass. Specifically, macroalgal and phytoplanktonic biomass of two Italian lagoon, Orbetello (north Tyrrhenian Sea) and Lesina (south Adriatic Sea), regarded as highly productive and eutrophic, were monitored in spring and summer 2011 and 2012. The study has been divided in two main sections. Firstly, a general qualitative outline of the submerged vegetation distribution by visual census techniques was conducted. Secondly, macroalgae and water samples for chlorophyll a determination were collected in order to study the primary production (in Kg.m-2 and ?g.L-1 for macroalgae and phytoplankton, respectively). Accordingly the lagoons have been divided into transects oriented according to the direction NS and WE. We obtained a total of 18 transects oriented in NW-SE direction in the Orbetello (8 in the western basin and 10 in the eastern basin) and 13 in the Lesina (10 of them in the "Sacca Orientale"). At the same time, physico-chemical parameters were measured by multiparametric probe. The results show a basic difference between the two systems, with a productivity shift towards phytoplankton biomass in Lesina and macroalgae in Orbetello. In Lesina, mean concentrations of chlorophyll a were 2.97 ± 3.63 ?g.L-1 (spring, with maximum of 15.27??g.L-1) and 2.36 ± 2.60 ?g.L-1 (summer, with peak of 12??g.L-1), while macroalgal biomass ranged from 1.9 to 2.6 kg.m-2 for both observation periods. Conversely, in Orbetello lagoon mean phytoplanktonic chlorophyll a did not exceed the level of 0.51 ±0.31 ?g.L-1 in spring and 0.81 ± 0.70 ?g.L-1 in summer (with maximum of 3.21 ?g.L-1), while biomass of submerged vegetation was always an order of magnitude greater. In particular, macroalgal biomass was higher in the western basin than in the Eastern one with mean values that increased from spring (28.2 Kg.m-2) to summer (66.1 kg.m-2). This study indicates that the high macroalgal production in Orbetello lagoon could be evaluated for biodiesel production, while in Lesina the macroalgae distribution is more casual e quantitatively less abundant.

1 -In this study recent changes of the distribution of three phanerogam species (Ruppia cirrhosa, Cymodocea nodosa, and Nanozostera noltii) were studied in the Orbetello lagoon, a meso-eutrophic and human stressed ecosystem. 2 -The aim was: I) to produce SURFER distributions maps, and II) to statistically evaluate significant changes in the spatial distribution taking into account two different factors (basin and year). For these reasons, percentage of coverage (CP) of each species was estimated in 38 sites equally distributed inside the Eastern and Western basins both in summers 2003 and 2009. 3 -The geostatistical maps evidenced changes in phanerogams distribution during the studied period but only variations observed for the N. noltii species at basin level resulted significant on a statistical basis. Significant differences at basin level were also obtained by the multivariate analysis. These results might be explained by the different ecological characteristics existing between Western and Eastern basins.

Bio-physical properties along a transect from coastal to offshore waters of the Southern AdriaticSea (Gulf of Manfredonia) were monitored during a multidisciplinary cruise in March 2012 and are herereported. Absence of stratification and presence of two systems with different bio-physical characteristicswere highlighted. Coastal waters resulted colder and less salty than off-shore waters. Primary biomassdata evidenced an increase of the values from the surface coastal waters to the depth of 25 m. A decrease ofphytoplankton biomass was also detected at the off-shore waters.

A multidisciplinary approach that combines field measurements, artificial neural networks, water balance analyses and hydrodynamic modelling was developed to investigate the water budget and renewal capacity of semi-closed coastal systems. The method was applied to the Lesina Lagoon, a micro-tidal lagoon in the southern Adriatic Sea (Italy). Surface water flux between the lagoon and the sea was determined by neural network prediction and used as input in the analysis. Strong seasonal variations in the water budget equation were predicted. Fresh water inputs estimated by the water balance analysis were used as forcing by a calibrated finite element model to describe the water circulation and transport time scale of the lagoon's surface waters. The model highlighted the spatial heterogeneity of the renewal behaviour of the system, with a strong east-west water renewal time gradient. Knowledge of spatial distribution of water renewal times is crucial for understanding the lagoon's renewal capacity and explaining the high spatial variability of the biogeochemistry of the Lesina Lagoon.

The mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Panopeidae), was studiedin Varano lagoon at two different sites. 10 adult specimens were caught using traditional traps. An increasein catches was observed over time, as well as an extension of the distribution in the lagoon basin comparedwith previous observations. The results suggest that the species has found trophic and environmentalconditions suitable for its survival.

L'anguilla europea è ampiamente usata come biomonitor nelle lagune costiere per la sua capacità di accumulare contaminanti durante la sua lunga vita, per i suoi bassi tassi di espulsione, per il suo comportamento ecologico e tolleranza ad alti livelli di inquinamento. In tale studio viene valutata la bontà dell'anguilla come bioindicatore di inquinamento in due lagune italiane (Orbetello e Varano). Campioni di sedimento superficiale e tessuti (fegato e muscolo) di anguille argentine, provenienti da catture commerciali, sono stati raccolti con lo scopo di determinare il contenuto degli inquinanti (organici ed inorganici), di valutare l'arricchimento nei tessuti e di correlare tali livelli alla potenziale differente pressione umana. Per valutare l'accumulo di contaminanti legato alle attività umane sono stati calcolati i fattori di arricchimento biologico (BEF), mentre l'analisi multivariata è stata usata per confrontare la pressione antropica sui due ecosistemi e l'influenza delle sorgenti di scarico. I risultati evidenziano una differenza significativa tra le lagune di Orbetello e Varano per ciò che riguarda i contaminanti organici nei sedimenti, con valori medi largamente più alti nella laguna di Orbetello. Stesso risultato è stato riscontrato dalle analisi dei tessuti delle anguille, evidenziando la presenza di un importante fonte locale di tale contaminazione ad Orbetello rispetto a Varano. In relazione agli inquinanti inorganici, arricchimenti significativi di alcuni elementi in traccia (per es. Zn e Cu) sono stati ritrovati in entrambi le lagune, con valori di BEF sensibilmente più alti nella laguna di Orbetello. In conclusione, i risultati ottenuti in questo studio confermano che l'anguilla europea rappresenta un buon indicatore della qualità delle lagune costiere. Sebbene la laguna di Varano risulti essere meno impattata da un punto di vista della qualità chimica rispetto ad Orbetello, dai fattori di accumulo è stato possibile differenziare la pressione antropica (origine) sulle due lagune. Nella laguna di Varano prevale l'inquinamento inorganico da elementi in traccia, dovuto ad intense attività agricole nel bacino imbrifero, mentre nella laguna di Orbetello è maggiore la biodisponibilità degli inquinanti organici, dovuti ad una maggiore industrializzazione ed urbanizzazione dell'area.

The seasonal variability of physico-chemical and biological parameters was observed from October 2012 to October 2013 inside and outside a farming area in the Southern Adriatic sea (Italy), to assess the impact of the mussel farming on ecology and biology of the area. Temperature showed a typical seasonal trend from 7°C to 27°C, while the salinity range was 34-39 psu. Oxygen saturation was close to 100% at the surface layers and decreased up to 60% near the bottom during the spring, suggesting its consumption by organic matter mineralization processes, which affected ammonia and phosphorous, with the highest concentrations measured outside area (4.73 ?M and 2.12 ?M, respectively). Increased values of oxidative nitrogen in winter (12.01 ± 3.67 ?M) were highlighted. A typical seasonal trend was observed for silicates from 5.59 ± 2.36 ?M in winter to 0.45 ± 0.28 ?M in spring. Chlorophyll a values reflected mixing and upwelling processes, with a peak of 6.70 ?g.l-1 in March, characteristic of the maximum phytoplankton production (1.53 x 106 cell.l-1). Diatoms represented the predominant taxonomic group (52%) in abundance and number of species for all the period, suggesting constant eutrophic conditions in both sites. The temporal trend of diatoms is roughly similar for both the sites, except for the spring-summer period, when a decrease of 50% of diatoms abundance was observed outside and a greater deviation of 80% was found inside the farming area.

This study analyses some aspects of Carcinus aestuarii biology within the project MOLEVAR funded byFEP ( European Funds for Fishing) in order to evaluate the crabs, Carcinus aestuarii, as a new economicresource for Varano Lagoon (S Italy). The population structure and reproductive biology of this specieswill be studed in three different sites of the lagoon. A total of 148 specimens were obtained from May toAugust 2012; 139 males and 9 females were observed. Length (CL) and width (CW) of the carapace andtotal weight (TW), were determined sex and development stage. At the same time, water temperature,salinity, oxygen concentration and pH were measured with a multiparametric probe. The reproductivebiology of C. aestuarii will be performed through the histological study of the reproductive cycle of thefemale and will be calculated the sex ratio.

1 - In this study recent changes of the distribution of three phanerogam species (Ruppia cirrhosa,Cymodocea nodosa, and Nanozostera noltii) were studied in the Orbetello lagoon, a meso-eutrophicand human stressed ecosystem.2 - The aim was: I) to produce SURFER distributions maps, and II) to statistically evaluate significantchanges in the spatial distribution taking into account two different factors (basin and year). For thesereasons, percentage of coverage (CP) of each species was estimated in 38 sites equally distributedinside the Eastern and Western basins both in summers 2003 and 2009.3 - The geostatistical maps evidenced changes in phanerogams distribution during the studied period butonly variations observed for the N. noltii species at basin level resulted significant on a statisticalbasis. Significant differences at basin level were also obtained by the multivariate analysis. Theseresults might be explained by the different ecological characteristics existing between Western andEastern basins.

1 - This study analyses some aspects of Carcinus aestuarii biology within the project MOLEVAR (PilotProject For The Production Of Moleche (C. aestuarii): New Economy For Varano Lagoon) fundedby FEP-Puglia 2007-2013 (European Funds for Fishing) in order to evaluate the crabs, Carcinusaestuarii, as a new economic resource for Varano Lagoon (Southern Italy).2 - The Varano lagoon is located on the Northern coast of the Gargano Promontory (Southern AdriaticSea). The lagoon and the neighboring coastal area are exploited by mussel farming, although suchactivity was recently reduced within the lagoon, where the fishery is now the most important resource.3 - The population structure of C. aestuarii will be studied in three different sites of the Varano lagoon.A total of 205 specimens were obtained from May to December 2012; 192 males and 13 females wereobserved. Length (CL) and width (CW) of the carapace and total weight (TW), were determined sexratio. The overall sex ratio was in favor of males (?2= 11.08). At the same time, water temperature,salinity, were measured with a multiparametric probe.4 - The ovigerous females (n=2) were caught only December in Capojale site. The catches highest(n=46) were recorded in June month in the Capojale site. The highest abundance was found duringJune 2012 (44 males and 2 females) of which 23 in Capojale, 22 in Varano and 1 specimen in SanNicola Imbuti station, respectively.5 - The information on the abundance, life cycle and functional role of this crab is still lacking forVarano lagoon. The data so far do not allow us to have a complete picture of the dynamics of thepopulation, especially because it lacks most of the female component.

In order to assess the fishery potential of the Aquatina lake we applied the methodof VATOVA (1953) which relates the quality and quantity of the benthic macrofaunawith the maximum sustainable yield in fish. Samples of benthic macrofauna weretaken in October 2006 and November 2007. The forthcoming data revealed thatthe fishery potential was 16 kg/ha in 2006 and 36 kg/ha in 2007, consisting in 60%of seabass, seabream and eel and 40% grey mullet. According to the bionomicscheme of FRISONI et al. (1984), 80% of Aquatina basin falls within Zone III andZone IV.

The study analyses the composition, distribution and structure of CrustaceanDecapods in Varano lagoon (S. Italy) for ten months. Samplings monthlyof Decapod Crustaceans were carried out from May 2012 to march 2012in three different stations within the Varano lagoon (Capojale and Varanomouths and San Nicola Imbuti) . In each station the main environmentalparameters were recorded by mean multiparametric probe (T °C, S psu).Were found a total 254 specimens Crabs belong to five several families:Portunidae (86%), Grapsidae (4%), Menippidae (2%), Panopeidae (3%),Varunidae (5%). Carcinus aestuarii Nardo, 1847 (Portunidae) was themost abundant and widespread among the species found during the studyperiod in all stations considered. A total 218 specimens of C. aestuarii (205males and 13 females) were caught. The station abounding in fish, in termsof crabs, seems to be called Capoyale, near the mouth of the northwest.Among the species found there is the presence of an alien species of originNorth-West Atlantic, the Panopeidae Dyspanopeus sayi (Smith, 1869). Thiswork contributes to the knowledge of Decapod Crustaceans populations inone of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean. control of these populationsalso in terms of composition could be a good method of indirect control ofthe environment.

Samples of surface sediments and tissues (liver and muscle) of commercially available European silver eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) collected from Varano lagoon (Italy) were analysed to determine trace element contents. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to highlight both the differences between sampling sites and the influence of channel discharges. Atomic ratios indices for sediment data and biological enrichment factors (BEF) for eel tissues were calculated in order to evaluate the enrichment factor due to human activities. The highest levels of As (11.9 mu g g(-1)) and Zn (14.1 mu g g(-1)) were observed in the south-eastern zone of the lagoon, which is influenced by urban and agricultural discharges. The low levels of Hg observed in this study (0.04 mu g g(-1)) led us to exclude both natural and human local sources of this element. Trace element concentrations of all elements were lower in muscle than in liver tissue. Significant enrichment of Cu and Zn was found in livers.

Soft bottom macrozoobenthic distribution, as well as its composition, biomass and diversity werestudied at 9 stations in the Gulf of Manfredonia. Polychaeta were numerically the dominant component(71%), followed by Crustacea (21%) and Bivalvia (2%). The highest biodiversity was observed at thestations in near-shore of the study area.

Lo scopo del lavoro è stato quello di descrivere lo stato ecologico della Sacca Orientale della laguna di Lesina (FG), considerando la comunità macrobentonica e la vegetazione sommersa. Sono stati fatti campionamenti stagionali (2010) in 13 stazioni. In ogni stazione sono state misurate T°C, Salinità e O% dell'acqua e prelevato mediante box-corer (0.0225m2) la macrofauna bentonica e la vegetazione. Il campione, separato dalla vegetazione è stato setacciato in situ, con setaccio di 1 mm. Per ogni stazione è stata rilevata la biomassa umida (gr/m2) e le specie vegetali, l'abbondanza (ind/m2), la biomassa umida (gr/m2) e calcolato gli indici strutturali della comunità bentonica. Per la vegetazione sono state identificate 8 categorie, 7 determinate a livello di specie e 1 a livello di genere. Della macrofauna bentonica sono stati identificati 16 taxa, 15 a livello di specie e 1 a livello di genere, raggruppati in 13 famiglie. Il numero maggiore di famiglie apparteneva ai crostacei (4). Il gruppo più abbondante sono stati i gasteropodi (50%), seguito dai bivalvi (21%) e crostacei (11%). I bivalvi e i crostacei sono stati i più ricchi di specie (4). L'abbondanza media non ha mostrato differenze significative sia tra i campionamenti che tra le stazioni (Anova, p non significativo). Differenze significative tra i mesi sono state osservate per l'indice di Shannon (p<0.05). L'abbondanza, l'indice di Shannon e Margalef hanno mostrato correlazioni positive con la presenza della vegetazione (r=0.61, r=0.34,r=0.34; p<0.05). I risultati hanno evidenziato una comunità bentonica strutturata, ricca di specie e di famiglie, dominate dai Filtratori-Detrivori e Erbivori-Detrivori.

L'obiettivo principale del lavoro è stato quello di stabilire una possibile zonizzazione nella laguna di Lesina, attraverso lo studio del comparto bentonico. In particolare, l'approccio utilizzato è stato quello di descrivere le variazioni spazio-temporali nella diversità e nella struttura del macrobentos e nelle caratteristiche chimico-fisiche dei sedimenti (granulometria, carbonio organico totale e macronutrienti), al fine di comprendere il potenziale effetto dell'habitat sedimentario sull'organizzazione spaziale della componente biotica. Campionamenti annuali (tarda primavera-estate), per un periodo di tre anni (2007, 2008, 2009), sono stati eseguiti su una griglia di n. 13 stazioni. I risultati granulometrici hanno mostrato che il settore orientale della laguna, soprattutto la linea di costa settentrionale, è caratterizzato dalla componente più grossolana, dove probabilmente la dinamica delle correnti previene l'accumulo delle particelle più fini che coprono la zona sud-orientale (silt) e quella occidentale (clay). E' stato osservato un aumento del contenuto medio di TOC dal 2007 (3,07%) al 2009 (3,72%), con i valori più alti nel settore orientale ed in corrispondenza del centro urbano. L'analisi multivariata sulle variabili ambientali non ha evidenziato zone della laguna significativamente differenti durante il periodo di studio, mentre una significativa differenza tra gli anni di osservazione fu ottenuta attraverso l'applicazione del test ANOSIM (analisi delle similarità) che h prodotto un fattore R=0,241, p=0,01%). In relazione al macrozobentos, è stato riscontrato un numero totale di specie pari a 20 dove il taxa dominante è costituito da i molluschi bivalvi (80%) e la specie più abbondante è rappresentata dall'Abra segmentum (61%). Contrariamente alle variabili ambiental, la Cluster analysis e l'ANOSIM test hanno identificato gruppi di stazioni caratterizzati da comunità macrozoobentiche significativamente diverse. Analogamente al TOC, l'abbondanza media degli organismi sembra aumentare nel corso degli anni e sembra mostrare altresì un gradiente Ovest-Est. I risultati biotici hanno evidenziato che gli assemblaggi macrozoobentici in laguna sono caratterizzati da un alta eterogeneità spaziale su piccola scala (ad esempio, centinaia di metri) in relazione ai cambiamenti ambientali fisici e chimici.

The zooplankton composition of Lake Varano has been studied from June 2007 to May 2008 considering three sampling stations (western, central, eastern). A total of 55 zooplankton categories were recognised, with medusae Aurelia aurita as the main macroscopic species; 43 of them occurred in less than 50% of the 71 samples collected, highlighting the seasonal aspect of the community. The remaining 12 categories, present in more than 50% of samples, were numerically dominated by the copepod 'Non Indigenous Species' Acartia tonsa (reported here for the first time in the lake), which occurred throughout the year. Maximal abundance of zooplankton was recorded in the eastern sampling station, while the lowest values were recorded in the central one. The statistical analysis of data allowed us to establish a not sharp separation of the three sampling stations, apart from isolated dates. The present zooplankton assemblage showed that about 40% of its components differed from those recorded in a study of 18 years before. This last comparison is not easily referable to the ongoing climate warming (the dominant species are of cold temperate origin) and analysis of uninterrupted time series could be useful to understand the underlying reasons.