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Effects of an artificial protection structure on the sandy shore macrofaunal community: the special case of Lido di Dante (Northern Adriatic Sea)

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Abstract

This study analysed the benthic compartment at Lido di Dante (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) within the frame of an integrated European project (DELOS), which aimed to identify, describe and quantify the effects of the Low Crested Structures (LCS) on the beach environment of many European coastlines. Both macrofaunal benthic communities and sediment characteristics were analysed in a sandy beach protected by a LCS parallel to the shoreline and laterally connected to land by two groynes, which have been responsible for changes of hydrodynamic patterns. A first survey (2001) focused on three exposure levels with respect to wave action. A higher species richness and a different community structure were found in the sheltered site as compared to the exposed and partially exposed sites. In addition, changes in sediment variables were found according to the exposure levels. A second survey (2002) assessed the combined effects of exposure and depth on both benthic communities and sediment variables. Our results suggest that both exposure and depth interact on measured biotic and abiotic variables. Species richness, community structure and size-classes distribution of the macrofauna, as well as the sediment composition, showed the greatest differences among the shallowest exposed zone and the deepest sheltered ones. On the contrary no difference at all occurred between the shallowest sheltered zone and the deepest exposed ones.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by funds from the EU project DELOS (EVK3–CT−2000-00041). The authors would like to thank M. Virgilio, R. Riccobene, and F. Colosio for diving assistance; R. Passaro, J. Anderson and C. Cagliola for fieldwork. Special thanks to R. Passaro and A. La Morgia for help in sorting macrofauna and laboratory assistance. The manuscript was greatly improved by comments from Daniel Martin and other anonymous reviewers.

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  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica Sperimentale And Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali, Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48100, Ravenna, Italy

    Fabio Bertasi, Marina A. Colangelo, Marco Abbiati & Victor Ugo Ceccherelli

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  1. Fabio Bertasi
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  2. Marina A. Colangelo
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Correspondence to Fabio Bertasi.

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Bertasi, F., Colangelo, M.A., Abbiati, M. et al. Effects of an artificial protection structure on the sandy shore macrofaunal community: the special case of Lido di Dante (Northern Adriatic Sea). Hydrobiologia 586, 277–290 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-0701-y

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