Multiple indices on different habitats and descriptors provide consistent assessments of environmental quality in a marine protected area

In the last decades, climate change and human pressures have increasingly dramatically impacted ocean worldwide, calling for urgent actions to safeguard coastal marine ecosystems. The European Commission, in particular, has set ambitious targets member states with two major directives, Water Framework Directive (WFD) Marine Strategy (MSFD), both designed protect environment EU waters. Diverse biotic indices accordingly been developed assess water habitat quality. WFD adopts four Biological Quality Elements (BQEs), whereas MSFD recommends a of eleven qualitative descriptors. borderline between quality is hard trace so far most assessments involved use few were mainly related single BQE or descriptor. this study, thanks availability large dataset encompassing wide array descriptors, we compared performance 11 relative three habitats/biotic components (reefs, seagrass, fish) Protected Area (MPA) Capo Carbonara (SE Sardinia, Italy). aim was whether consistent defining environmental status MPA investigated. We used graphical approach RESQUE (REsilience QUality Ecosystem), which enabled us obtain comprehensive measure by integrating several metrics. This applied here different habitats first time. All each other confirming good MPA. provided insights interpret differences quality, defined according WFD, MSFD. Differences terms either requirements goals, long discussed but present study highlights time that they are congruent their assessment