Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Coral Reef Arks: An In Situ Mesocosm and Toolkit for Assembling Reef Communities
Published on: January 6, 2023
The effect of breakwaters on the structure of marine soft-bottom assemblages: a case study from a North-Western
Claudia Becchi1, Irene Ortolani1, Alexander Muir2
1Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
Abstract:
This two-year study is the first attempt to analyse the ecological effects of breakwater systems on soft-bottom assemblages along the North Tyrrhenian coast. Differently from previous studies focusing on infauna of on-shore and off-shore sides, we compared the assemblages inhabiting the surrounding soft-bottoms not directly protected by the breakwaters, defining our sampling stations at varying distances from the breakwaters and at constant distance from the coast. Data collected revealed that abundance, species richness and M-AMBI ecological quality differed between northern and southern sides, and were related to distance from structures. Multivariate analyses of relationships between assemblages and abiotic characteristics support this hypothesis. The extension of these effects, that resulted to be weak and limited to a restricted area, could be a consequence of coastal current on local hydrodynamics. This study provides novel and critical information for the management of the coastal defence infrastructure spreading along the western coast of Italy.
More Related Videos
09:49Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
Published on: October 31, 2019
08:43Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
Published on: October 24, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Effect of Sea Water on Concrete
Concrete in areas between tide marks,...
Marine Microbial Ecology
Keystone Species
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Deep Sea Microbial Ecology
Freshwater Microbial Ecology