Comparison of benthic indices for the evaluation of ecological status of three Slovenian transitional water bodies (northern Adriatic). Issue 2 (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pitacco, Valentina; Lipej, Lovrenc; Mavrič, Borut; Mistri, Michele; Munari, Cristina
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 129:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 813
• Page End: 821
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Water framework directive -- Benthic indices -- Ecological quality status -- Transitional waters -- Northern Adriatic; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Benthic indicators are important tools for the classification of coastal and transitional water bodies. The aim of the work was to assess for the first time the Environmental Status (ES) of Slovenian transitional waters, comparing the following biotic indices: richness, Shannon-Weaver diversity, AMBI, M-AMBI, BENTIX and BITS indices. A total of 13 stations were sampled with a Van Veen grab, in three ecosystems in the northern Adriatic. Samples were sieved and sorted, invertebrates identified and counted. The anthropogenic impact was estimated with professional judgement. Richness and diversity showed a good response to anthropogenic pressure. Conversely, indices based on sensitivity/tolerance groups did not showed a clear distinction between more and less impacted ecosystems. In particular BENTIX underestimated the ES, while with BITS there was a overestimation. The best evaluation was obtained with M-AMBI, because even if based on a sensitivity/tolerance approach, it considered also the structural aspect of the community. Highlights: The status of Slovenian transitional waters was assessed for the first time. Richness and diversity showed a good response to anthropogenic pressure. Bentix underestimated the ecological quality. The best evaluation was obtained with M-AMBI.