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Density and distribution patterns of the endangered species Pinna nobilis within a Posidonia oceanica meadow in the Gulf of Oristano (Italy)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2010

S. Coppa ,
I. Guala ,
G.A. de Lucia ,
G. Massaro  and
M. Bressan
S. Coppa*
Affiliation:
IAMC–CNR, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment–National Research Council (Oristano Section), Loc. Sa Mardini, 09072 Torregrande (Oristano, Italy) Fondazione IMC, International Marine Centre Onlus, Loc. Sa Mardini, 09072 Torregrande (Oristano, Italy)
I. Guala
Affiliation:
Fondazione IMC, International Marine Centre Onlus, Loc. Sa Mardini, 09072 Torregrande (Oristano, Italy)
G.A. de Lucia
Affiliation:
IAMC–CNR, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment–National Research Council (Oristano Section), Loc. Sa Mardini, 09072 Torregrande (Oristano, Italy)
G. Massaro
Affiliation:
Penisola del Sinis–Isola di Mal di Ventre MPA, Piazza E. D'Arborea, 1 09072 Cabras (Oristano, Italy)
M. Bressan
Affiliation:
University of Padova, Department of Biology, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121 (Padova, Italy)
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: S. Coppa, IAMC–CNR, Institute for Coastal Marine Environment–National Research Council (Oristano Section), Loc. Sa Mardini, 09072 Torregrande (Oristano, Italy) email: s.coppa@iamc.cnr.it
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Abstract

Pinna nobilis is an endemic bivalve of the Mediterranean Sea. In the last decades P. nobilis populations have declined drastically due to increasing anthropogenic pressure and it has been declared a protected species since 1992. Despite the need for conservation, knowledge of the ecology and monitoring of the main populations of P. nobilis are limited. This study considered a population living within a Posidonia oceanica meadow in the Gulf of Oristano (western Mediterranean, Italy). The study area, about 150 hectares, part of which is included within a Marine Protected Area and a Site of Community Importance, was subdivided in 3 sub-areas. The percentage cover of different habitat types (P. oceanica, dead matte and sand) in each sub-area was measured and meadow features (substrate coverage, matte compactness and shoot density) characterized. The hypotheses of differences in density, percentage of dead individuals, population structure, shell burial level and orientation of P. nobilis, were investigated according to sub-areas and to habitat type. The spatial distribution was patchy, and the habitat type resulted a key factor in determining both density and distribution. A strong edge effect was demonstrated: more than half of the observed individuals colonized the P. oceanica border. Matte compactness and shoot density were found to affect the density and distribution of P. nobilis. Shell burial level and percentage of dead individuals varied with sub-areas and habitat types. Size distribution was bimodal and common shell orientation was observed in two sub-areas. These results contribute to increase the knowledge of population ecology of this species and to provide useful information for implementing conservation policies.

Keywords

Pinna nobilispopulation densityspatial distributionGulf of Oristanowestern Mediterraneanedge effectPosidonia oceanica meadowMarine Protected Areas
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 90 , Issue 5 , August 2010 , pp. 885 - 894
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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