Benthic communities in three Mediterranean touristic ports: MAPMED project

Area of Science:

• Marine Ecology
• Benthic Ecology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Mediterranean ports are vital economic hubs but face significant pollution and anthropogenic disturbance.
• Polluted, low-oxygen sediments threaten benthic biodiversity and promote opportunistic/invasive species.
• Macrobenthic communities serve as crucial indicators of environmental quality in port ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a baseline database for macrobenthic biodiversity in Mediterranean ports.
• To assess macrobenthic assemblages in three distinct Mediterranean touristic ports.
• To identify patterns in species distribution and abundance across different port sectors.

Main Methods:

• Macrobenthic assemblages were sampled across three Mediterranean ports: Cagliari (Italy), Heraklion (Greece), and El Kantaoui (Tunisia).
• Sampling occurred in February, May, and September 2012, targeting various port sectors (leisure, fishing, cargo, shipyard).
• Taxonomic identification and abundance data were recorded for all collected macrobenthic organisms.

Main Results:

• A total of 277 taxa from 12 phyla were identified, with 96 taxa found in all three ports.
• El Kantaoui port exhibited the highest macrobenthic species richness.
• Mollusca constituted the most abundant group (34%), and Heraklion's shipyard showed the highest opportunistic taxa percentage (89.3%) pre-tourism.

Conclusions:

• Mediterranean ports harbor diverse macrobenthic communities, providing valuable ecological data.
• Significant variations in biodiversity and species composition exist among different port areas and locations.
• Establishing baseline data is critical for effective environmental management and conservation of port ecosystems.