Harbor basins are strategically important and heavily impacted water bodies according to the water framework directive. Due to constant trafc, variety of activities, and low-energy hydrodynamics, these areas can have high degrees of water pollution. This study reports the results of the preliminary investigation of anthropogenic microlitter (AM) pollution in a semi-enclosed basin (Civitavecchia harbor; northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) using the tubes built by the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii. The visual inspection showed AM particles within the tube structure as a result of its building process. The total average AM abundance was 20.8±3.7 AM g−1. AM abundances and fushing time as the hydrodynamic parameter of water renewal highlight the homogeneity of the sampling area. The suitability of S. spallanzanii tubes as a potential tool to investigate the AM pollution level in sheltered and polluted environments is highlighted
Preliminary Investigation of Microlitter Pollution in Low-Energy Hydrodynamic Basins Using Sabella spallanzanii (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) Tubes
Mancini, Emanuele;
2020-01-01
Abstract
Harbor basins are strategically important and heavily impacted water bodies according to the water framework directive. Due to constant trafc, variety of activities, and low-energy hydrodynamics, these areas can have high degrees of water pollution. This study reports the results of the preliminary investigation of anthropogenic microlitter (AM) pollution in a semi-enclosed basin (Civitavecchia harbor; northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) using the tubes built by the polychaete Sabella spallanzanii. The visual inspection showed AM particles within the tube structure as a result of its building process. The total average AM abundance was 20.8±3.7 AM g−1. AM abundances and fushing time as the hydrodynamic parameter of water renewal highlight the homogeneity of the sampling area. The suitability of S. spallanzanii tubes as a potential tool to investigate the AM pollution level in sheltered and polluted environments is highlightedI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
