The Ecological Role of Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande in a Choked Lagoon

We studied the ecological and functional aspects (such as role in sediment characteristics plant–animal interactions) of a Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande meadow during its vegetative season choked Valle Campo lagoon, sub-basin wider Valli di Comacchio, on Northern Adriatic coast. Sampling campaigns were carried out with roughly fortnightly frequency 2017 at two sites, one bare sediment. Sediment parameters analyzed microphytobenthic chlorophyll-a, protein, carbohydrate, lipid content, total organic matter. The macrobenthos was identified lowest possible taxonomic level. Chlorophyll a, surrogate microphytobenthos, showed differences between probably mainly related to light intensity; thus, it is expected that absence seagrass canopy results higher production microphytobenthos. At both proteins dominant class labile compounds, suggesting detrital matter present study sites high nutritional quality. protein/carbohydrate ratio also suggests presence non-aged recorded 18 macroinvertebrate taxa. positive influence macrofauna abundance, diversity, species richness, composition trophic groups. Only infaunal taxa Capitella capitata Chironomus salinarius exhibited abundance site. quality status measured by M-AMBI index unsatisfactory everywhere. However, resulted values being consistently higher. this minor has been proved be great importance, improving sediments and, above all, providing new habitats niches for number benthic species.