Comparative study based on sediment characteristics and macrobenthic communities in two Italian lagoons

Navigating a Microplastic Sea: How the Pacific Cupped Oyster (Magallana gigas) Respond to Microplastic Pollution in Lagoons

Microplastic pollution poses an escalating concern, particularly in coastal lagoons rich in biodiversity. This study delved into the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in Magallana gigas (formerly Crassostrea gigas) from the Orbetello and Varano coastal lagoons (Italy), also investigating the response of these filter-feeding organisms to various colors (P = pink; B = blue; W = white) of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) MP fragments. Oysters were exposed for 7 days under controlled conditions. Subsequently, the oysters underwent analysis for both MP presence and biochemical markers of oxidative stress. Diverse ingestion rates of HDPE were noted among oysters from the two lagoons, eliciting antioxidant responses and modifying baseline activity. The two-way ANOVA revealed the significant effects of treatment (control; HDPE_B; HDPE_P; HDPE_W), site, and the interaction between treatment and site on all biomarkers. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed a divergent effect of HDPE color on biomarkers. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the influence of MP color, dose-dependent effects, and the long-term impacts of exposure. Comprehending these intricacies is imperative for devising effective strategies to mitigate plastic pollution and safeguard marine health.

Chemical pollution and ecotoxicological effects of high-density polyethylene microplastics in Mytilus galloprovincialis from two Italian lagoon ecosystems

Transitional water ecosystems have low water exchanges and can trap chemicals and microplastics (MPs). In this study, MPs, trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-PHAs levels and the oxidative stress response were assessed in Mytilus galloprovincialis from two Italian lagoon ecosystems (Orbetello and Varano). In addition, the ecotoxicological effects induced by the exposure of M. galloprovincialis to high-density polyethylene-HDPE MPs were also determined. Levels of trace elements were almost always comparable among the sites, whereas MPs were found only in mussels from Orbetello. PAHs were always under the limit of quantification. Glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher in mussels from Varano. As regard the exposure test, it was found a significant effect of treatment, site and their interaction on mortality and biochemical biomarkers in both fed and unfed mussels. However, principal component analysis suggests similar effects of both color and nourishment condition on biochemical biomarkers. These findings warrant further investigation.

Multiannual Trend of Micro-Pollutants in Sediments and Benthic Community Response in a Mediterranean Lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Italy)

Long-term variations of ecological status in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon (Sacca di Goro, Northern Adriatic) were investigated, combining data on the concentration of surface sediment contaminants and on the structure of the macrobenthic community. The aim was to assess any amount of chemical contamination and check the response of the macrobenthic community to sediment contamination. Over the studied period, the sediments of the lagoon showed contamination by trace metals and organochlorine pesticides, with most of them exceeding the thresholds indicated by the Italian legislation in many samples. Contamination by polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) instead never exceeded the threshold. The ecological status based on the macrobenthic community, evaluated through biotic indices (AMBI and M-AMBI), fell below the Good/Moderate threshold in most samples. The results indicate a possible influence of toxic compounds in sediment on benthic organisms, but most of the variability shown by the macrobenthic community is probably due to other factors. The difficulty in establishing a cause/effect relationship was due to the co-occurrence and variability of various stressors (both natural and anthropogenic) and their interactions. The methods currently used for monitoring transitional waters thus seem insufficient to disentangle the effect of pollutants and other environmental variables on the benthos. Integrated approaches (e.g., bioaccumulation and toxicity tests) are thus needed for a more precise identification of the risk posed by a high concentration of pollutants in such environments.

Biogeochemistry and sedimentology of Lago di Lesina (Italy)

The Lago di Lesina (Lesina Lake, southeastern Italy) is a coastal pond located on an alluvial plain to the north of Gargano Promontory. The aim of this work was to study the depositional and hydrological processes, the benthic environment and the heavy metal sediments pollution of Lesina Lake. The study was carried out by Redox potential, water content, grain-size, mineralogical and biogeochemical analyses in surface sediments collected from 100 sampling stations in the coastal pond bottom. The results showed a predominance of three types of bottom pelitic sediments of different origins and compositions: siliciclastic, carbonatic, and organic. Siliciclastic sediments, which were found especially in the western basin and in the northwestern sector of the central basin, are due to inputs from Acquarotta Canal, some intermittent western streams, and deflation by northerly winds of the sandy barrier that separates the lake from the sea. Carbonate sediments are carried by streams and canals draining the carbonate rocks of the Gargano Mountains and entering the lake from its eastern and southeastern border, these sediments are predominant in the eastern basin and in the southeastern sector of the central basin. Organic matter is abundant throughout the whole lake; it is due to the high productivity of the Lago di Lesina waters that are rich of nutrients for inputs of waters draining the surrounding intensively cultivated agricultural areas. The finer bottom sediments of the lake tend to be removed from the shallower bottoms between the central and eastern sub-basins and near the borders to be deposited in the central portion of the central and western sub-basins. Heavy metal sediment pollution due to anthropic inputs is limited and consists of As, Pb, Cu, and Ni in the western basin, Cu, Zn, and Ni in the eastern basin, and Pb along the northern border.

Heavy metals, OCPs, PAHs, and PCDD/Fs contamination in surface sediments of a coastal lagoon (Valli di Comacchio, NW Adriatic, Italy): Long term trend (2002-2013) and effect on benthic community

Surface sediments contamination (heavy metals, organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans) and benthic community of the Valli di Comacchio, were analysed from 2002 to 2013. Along the studied period, most of analysed pollutants did not exceed thresholds for Good chemical status of sediments. In 2008, a peak of contamination was observed, with total PAHs and OCPs exceeding their threshold. Considering metals, Ni and Cr exceeded their thresholds, but not the background levels for the area, suggesting natural enrichment; conversely Pb exceeded background levels for the area in many samples, but it exceeded its sediment quality thresholds only in few samples (2006, 2009, 2011). Conversely, the ecological status evaluated though AMBI and M-AMBI, was below the Good/Moderated thresholds established by WFD in most of the studied years. In the 11 yrs-study period, the benthic community showed a very weak response to chemical contamination.

Seasonal Fluctuations of Trace Elements from Different Habitats of Orbetello Lagoon (Thyrrenian Sea, Italy)

This study evaluated seasonal fluctuations of trace elements of major ecotoxicological concern in sediments and their uptakes by the aquatic vegetation indifferent undisturbed habitats from the Orbetello lagoon, correlating measured levels to abiotic and biotic drivers to scale the significant of their effect on observed seasonal variability of trace elements. Results show that under natural undisturbed conditions, observed seasonal fluctuations in different habitats are statistically correlated to temperature, salinity, and turbidity of water and total nutrients in sediments. These variables and the habitat type dominated by macroalgae (C. linum) play a significant role as drivers of variability for measured trace elements in sediments. This study represents a reference undisturbed condition of natural seasonal trends of trace elements in different habitat types before the occurrence of numerous impacting activities on sediments and could represent a useful baseline for further management evaluations after the occurrence of sediment disturbance actions planned for the near future.

Do lagoon area sediments act as traps for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons?

The coastal lagoons are vulnerable systems, located between the land and the sea, enriched by both marine and continental inputs and are among the most productive aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this work is to understand the influence of the lagoon area sediments on the behaviour of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, through the adsorption coefficient determination. In fact, the sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is an important process because it governs the fate, transport, bioavailability and toxicity of these compounds in sediments. It has been observed that the adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a transitional system is the outcome of different factors, such as their sources and physicochemical properties, salinity and sediment composition, hydrology and environmental conditions. The results showed that transitional areas contribute to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon accumulation in the sediment turning it into a trap.

Environmental quality assessment combining sediment metal levels, biomarkers and macrobenthic communities: application to the Óbidos coastal lagoon (Portugal)

Macroinvertebrate benthic communities are one of the key biological components considered for the assessment of benthic integrity in the context of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). However, under moderate contamination scenarios, the assessment of macrobenthic alterations at community level alone could be insufficient to discriminate the environmental quality of coastal and transitional waters. Keeping this in view, sediment quality of moderately contaminated sites in a coastal lagoon (Óbidos lagoon, Portugal) was assessed by the combination of sediment metal levels, Carcinus maenas biomarkers (accumulated metals and oxidative stress responses) and macrobenthic communities. Two sites were selected in confined inner branches (BS and BB) and a third one in the middle lagoon (ML). The site BB presented slightly higher levels of metals in sediment but biological variables calculated for macrobenthic data were not significantly different between sites. The biotic index M-AMBI that is being applied to assess environmental quality of transitional waters in the scope of the WFD pointed either to high (site ML) or good quality status (BS and BB) in the selected sites. However, crabs from BB site presented significantly higher levels of Ni in hepatopancreas than those from ML and macrobenthic community structure was significantly different between BB and ML. Additionally, spatial differences were obtained for oxidative stress parameters suggesting that BB site presented stressors for crabs (higher GST and lower GSH(t) at BB site). Factor analysis (PCA) integrating sediment contamination, biomarkers in crabs and macrobenthic data also distinguished BB site as the most environmentally disturbed. On the other hand, at ML site, some macrobenthic variables (equitability and polychaetes' diversity) were found to be enhanced by current environmental conditions, suggesting the existence of a better sediment quality. Current results pointed to the usefulness of integrating macrobenthic community alterations with responses at organism level (bioaccumulation and biochemical endpoints) in order to increase the accuracy of environmental quality assessment in lagoon systems. Moreover, the application of different statistical methods was also found to be recommendable.

Spatial and temporal dynamic of trophic relevant parameters in a subtropical coastal lagoon in Brazil

Coastal lagoons are ecologically and economically important environments but a relative low number of studies were carried out in subtropical and permanently closed coastal lagoons. The present study aimed at assessing the temporal and spatial dynamic of trophic relevant water quality parameters in the small, deep and freshwater Peri coastal lagoon, South Brazil. During the 19 sampled months (March/2008-September/2009) spatial homogeneity (horizontal and vertical) was registered in all seasons for all variables, a condition related to the strong wind influence and low human occupation in the lagoon watershed. Seasonal variations of the water quality could be observed and they can be explained mainly by variation on temperature, wind forces and direction and rainfall, characteristic from the subtropical weather. Comparing this study with two others conducted in Peri lagoon in 1996 and 1998, no critical differences that evidence alteration in the water quality were found, but climate differences may have influenced in some small variations observed. The use of four trophic state indices indicated that indices designed for temperate lakes are inappropriate for the subtropical Peri lagoon. The lagoon was classified as oligotrophic for nutrients concentrations and meso-eutrophic for transparency and chlorophyll-a, which can be explained by the high densities and monodominance of the cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and the high recycling rates observed in warmer water bodies, when compared to the temperate ones.