Environmental monitoring of the highly polluted Gulf of Bagnoli (Italy) using foraminiferal metabarcoding and morphology-based assessment

The former-industrial site of Bagnoli (Naples, Southern Italy), the second Italian largest steelwork, has been negatively affected by discharges heavy metals and hydrocarbons that have markedly altered water sediment quality as well biota living therein. On basis benthic foraminiferal traditional morphology-based approach eDNA metabarcoding, we evaluate response foraminifera to pollution define Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) in Gulf Bagnoli. Higher concentrations Pb (up 322 ppm) Zn 795 than Effect Range Median are identified area front former industrial site, specifically between two piers. Indeed, significant differences terms alpha beta diversity found most polluted (i.e., plant) sites northern can be considered relatively low polluted. analysis selected biotic indices exp(H’ bc ), Foram-AMBI, gAMBI) computed for morphological metabarcoding datasets strikingly congruently identify poor bad EcoQS plant, whereas results good high North site. congruence complementarity data support application routine biomonitoring a reliable, time- cost-effective methodology assess environmental impacts heavily marine areas.