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Microbial assemblages for environmental quality assessment: Knowledge, gaps and usefulness in the European Marine
Gabriella Caruso1, Rosabruna La Ferla1, Maurizio Azzaro1
1a National Research Council (CNR), Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC) , Messina , Italy .
Critical Reviews in Microbiology
|November 21, 2015
Summary
Marine microbial components, especially prokaryotes, are crucial for assessing environmental health but are overlooked by the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Incorporating prokaryotic variables can enhance monitoring of marine ecosystems and anthropogenic impacts.
Area of Science:
- Marine ecology
- Microbial ecology
- Environmental policy
Background:
- The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) in European seas by 2020.
- Microbial assemblages are vital for marine biodiversity and ecosystem function but are largely ignored by the MSFD.
- Prokaryotes are currently only recognized as "microbial pathogens" within the MSFD framework.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze current MSFD descriptors regarding marine microbial components.
- To illustrate the reliability and advantages of incorporating prokaryotic variables into MSFD indicators.
- To recommend the inclusion of marine microbes, particularly prokaryotes, in future MSFD implementations.
Main Methods:
- Review and critical analysis of existing MSFD descriptors.
- Evaluation of the potential incorporation of prokaryotic variables (abundance, biodiversity, metabolism) into MSFD descriptors (D1, D4, D5, D8, D9).
- Cost-benefit analysis based on scientific and economic criteria.
Main Results:
- Prokaryotic variables can be effectively integrated into multiple MSFD descriptors, enhancing marine environmental quality assessment.
- Marine microbial components, especially prokaryotes, are highly effective in detecting anthropogenic pressures and changes in environmental health.
- Current MSFD indicators do not fully capture the ecological significance of microbial assemblages.
Conclusions:
- Marine microbial components, particularly prokaryotes, offer a cost-effective and reliable means to monitor marine environmental health.
- Integrating prokaryotic variables into the MSFD will significantly improve the assessment of Good Environmental Status.
- Future MSFD implementations should prioritize the inclusion of marine microbial indicators for comprehensive environmental monitoring.
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