Authors: (F. Frontalini, Armynot du Châtelet, J.P.E. Debenay, R. Coccioni, G. Bancalà, DiSUAN, Urbino University, Campus Scientifico, Localita' Crocicchia, Urbino, Italy, and others)
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Abstract:
Coastal lagoons are particularly complex environments in which the transition between marine and continental waters is gradual, due to the continuity of the aquatic habitat. They are characterized by major fluctuations in chemical and physical parameters, which reflect multiple interactions between the distance to the sea, water depth, the nature of the sediment, organic matter quality, hydrodynamic turnover time, tidal currents, wind forced currents, volume lost by evaporation, and gravitational circulation. Moreover, these ecosystems are often subjected to a great deal of anthropogenic impact, which further complicates our understanding of these habitats. Comparative studies of lagoonal environments essentially require the utilization of organisms that are distributed worldwide and occur in high density populations in most of the benthic niches. This is certainly the case for foraminifers which, as lower trophic level members, are crucial to the biological community and ideal candidates for comprehensive habitat assessment. Some widespread paralic benthic foraminiferal species are present from temperate macrotidal estuaries to tropical microtidal lagoons, thus enabling comparative studies of environmental conditions to be conducted. |
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