18.44239889

18.45094972

40.21147028

40.18108056

15.34613194

15.54062694

41.90167472

41.86828694

15.68628056

15.79728111

41.90485722

41.85592722

2008-02-25

2010-02-05

Info and download page on the LifeWatch Italy Data Portal

DOI

Italian National Research Council

principalInvestigator

University of Salento

principalInvestigator

Data on benthic macroinvertebrates were collected in 3 transitional water ecosystems in Apulia, Italy: namely Alimini, Lesina and Varano. Four seasonal field sampling campaigns were performed for each of the two years 2008 and 2010 in the three ecosystems. On the whole, 16 sampling sites were considered in the three lagoons. For each sampling site three replicates of benthic samples were collected by manual Reineck box-corer (0.03 square meters) in Alimini and an Ekman-Birge grab in Lesina and Varano (0.1 square meters).

In the laboratory, samples were sorted under a stereomicroscope, all invertebrates were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, counted, measured (body length) and their body mass determined. Individuals larger than 20 mm were measured with callipers to the nearest 0.5 mm. Body length measurements were performed in accordance with standard procedures available in the literature for the different taxa sampled in this study. Total body length was measured for Hirudinea, Oligochaeta, Nematoda and Nematomorpha. For Insecta, Crustacea and Polichaeta body length was measured as the distance from the anterior part of the head to the end of the last abdominal segment (excluding cerci, antennae and other appendages). Body length was measured as total shell height for Gastropoda and as valve length at the longest point for Bivalvia. All individuals were then oven-dried to constant weight for at least 72 h at 60 °C and then weighed to the nearest ± 1 microgram on a Sartorius (MC 5) micro-analytic balance. All individuals in the same taxonomic category and geographic location were pooled inside numbered crucibles and burned in a muffle furnace at 500 °C for 6h. Body size data were then expressed as ash-free dry weight (AFDW).

The sampling design for Lesina and Varano coastal lagoons was 4 sampling times for year, 6 sampling sites for each ecosystem and sampling time, 3 replicates for sampling site. Alimini sampling design was the same but with only 4 sampling sites.

The sampling design for Lesina and Varano coastal lagoons was 4 sampling times for year, 6 sampling sites for each ecosystem and sampling time, 3 replicates for sampling site. Alimini sampling design was the same but with only 4 sampling sites.

For each sampling site, three replicates of benthic samples were collected by manual Reineck box-corer (0.03 square meters) in Alimini and an Ekman-Birge grab in Lesina and Varano (0.1 square meters).