Meiobenthos and ocean acidification: Effects on meiobenthic communities inhabiting Mediterranean cold shallow CO2-vents

Cocozza di Montanara A, Baldrighi E, López Correa M, Chianese E, Appolloni L, Simoncini N, Sandulli R, Zeppilli D, Semprucci F, Gambi MC, Ferrigno F, Donnarumma L (2024)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science Elsevier

Book Volume: 300

Article Number: 108730

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108730

Abstract

Ocean acidification is causing major changes in marine ecosystems, with varying levels of impact, depending both on the habitat and the studied organisms. Here, we investigated for the first time the meiobenthos and nematode fauna inhabiting the sediments around Castello Aragonese (Ischia, Italy), characterized by variable pH values due to coastal volcanic CO2 venting. In this scenario, nematode functional diversity changed according to different pH levels and grain size: maturity index was higher at most acidic stations and trophic composition spanned from the dominance of predators in the acidic stations, to the high abundance of non-selective deposit feeders and epistrate feeders in the ambient-pH stations. Overall, the present study revealed a relatively high tolerance of meiobenthos and nematodes to lower pH conditions. However, an in-depth analysis of nematode fauna showed differences in their assemblages at different pH levels with few nematode genera rather adapted to the extreme environmental conditions at the acidic stations.

Authors with CRIS profile

Matthias López Correa Lehrstuhl für Paläoumwelt

Involved external institutions

University of Naples "Parthenope" IT Italy (IT) National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS) IT Italy (IT) University of Nevada, Reno US United States (USA) (US) Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM) / Marche Polytechnic University IT Italy (IT) Université de Bretagne Occidentale FR France (FR) University of Urbino "Carlo Bo" / Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo" (UNIURB) IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Cocozza di Montanara, A., Baldrighi, E., López Correa, M., Chianese, E., Appolloni, L., Simoncini, N.,... Donnarumma, L. (2024). Meiobenthos and ocean acidification: Effects on meiobenthic communities inhabiting Mediterranean cold shallow CO2-vents. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, 300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108730

MLA:

Cocozza di Montanara, A., et al. "Meiobenthos and ocean acidification: Effects on meiobenthic communities inhabiting Mediterranean cold shallow CO2-vents." Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 300 (2024).

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