Response of a Fuzzy INdex of Ecosystem integrity (FINE) to water and sedimentary chemical data in two northern Adriatic lagoons |
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| Authors: | M. Mistri C. Munari R. Rossi A. Marchini |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biology and Evolution , University of Ferrara , Via L. Borsari 46, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy michele.mistri@unife.it;3. Department of Biology and Evolution , University of Ferrara , Via L. Borsari 46, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy;4. Department of Biology and Evolution , University of Ferrara , Via L. Borsari 46, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy;5. Department of “Ecologia del Territorio” , University of Pavia , Via S. Epifanio 14, I-27100, Pavia, Italy |
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| Abstract: | The European WFD (2000/60/EC) requires the assessment of the ecological quality status of water bodies, and gives great importance to the biological components of the ecosystem. A multimetric, fuzzy-based index for the evaluation of environmental quality (FINE: Fuzzy INdex of Ecosystem integrity) has been developed. The FINE index was calculated at 7 sites in the Sacca di Goro and the Valli di Comacchio (Adriatic Sea), where water and sedimentary chemical data were available for the years 2004 and 2005. A significant positive correlation was found between FINE values and dissolved oxygen, while significant negative correlations were observed between FINE values and transparency, nitrogen and phosphorous in the water column, and heavy metals and PCB in the sediments. |
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| Keywords: | Benthos Transitional waters Environmental quality Multimetric index Adriatic Sea |
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