Luciana Ferraro

Utility of benthic foraminifera for biomonitoring of contamination in marine sediments: A case study from the Naples harbour (Southern Italy)

We propose a detailed investigation on the distribution patterns of the benthic foraminiferal assemblage and their predominant species in the highly contaminated marine sediments of the Naples harbour. Combined use of multivariate canonical, cluster and principal component analysis in a proper geostatistic framework provided an appropriate approach to explore the role played by a number of contaminants (heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, heavy hydrocarbons, PCBs) and different physical parameters (grain size, pH, redox potential, total organic carbon) on the spatial distribution of the benthic foraminiferal assemblage and its single species. Obtained results provide evidence for a high and systematic non-linear response of the biota to the effects of contamination of the different classes of pollutants. The reduced number of specimens per sample, their small dimensions and low diversity, testify the negative effects of a highly contaminated environment. For this reason, it appears very difficult to clearly identify a differential sensitivity of different benthic species to single classes of contaminants. In particular, in addition to a number of case studies which invoked a key role of the heavy metals in the control of the distribution patterns of the benthic foraminifera in the marine environment, the results presented here underline an important effect of some classes of organic compounds (particularly the volatile organic compounds) on the distribution patterns of the benthic assemblage. However, the obtained results demonstrate that any kind of oversimplification would unquestionably cancel the strong complexity of the biotic response to combined effects of different coexisting contaminants.

Marine Geology and Morphobathymetry in the Bay of Naples (South-Eastern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

Recent multibeam bathymetry (Elac, Bottomchart MK2) and high resolution seismics (Subbottom Chirp and 1–4 kJ Sparker source), acquired in the frame of an on-going programme of sea-floor mapping of Naples and Salerno Bays (south-eastern Tyrrhenian margin, Italy) and financed by the National Geological Survey of Italy, allows to put new insights into the recent evolution of the bay. The morphology and stratigraphy of the continental shelf and slope appear strongly controlled by the interplay of volcanism and canyoning that acted along the Magnaghi and Dohrn axes. Detailed bathymetry reveals the complexity of the drainage pattern which consists of a previously unknown, dense network of minor tributary channels. At places, the Dohrn and Magnaghi canyon walls are intensively affected by slope instability, as evidenced by numerous submarine slides and scars involving large volumes of sediments. Previously unreported mound-shaped morphological highs (“Bacarozzi” Facies), Holocene reworked sediments and sea-bottom creep appear on acoustic Chirp profiles in the inner sectors of the bay and seem to be related to volcano-sedimentary processes. On the contrary, sedimentation over the shelf at the southern edge of the bay (Sorrento-Capri) seems less influenced by volcanic activity and seabed features include Late Pleistocene regressive sand bodies and Holocene patch reefs, coastal dunes and depositional terraces.

Heavy metals in benthic foraminifera from the highly polluted sediments of the Naples harbour (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

A systematic investigation evaluated the concentrations of a selected number of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Li, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in carbonates of the benthic foraminifera Ammonia tepida collected from surface sediments of the highly polluted harbour of Naples. Application of cleaning procedures, combined with Scanning Electron Microscopy investigation (SEM) of the analysed shells allowed reliable quantification of the elements in the carbonate lattice. Adoption of biogenic carbonate/seawater distribution coefficients reported in the literature provided the ranges of variability of total dissolved trace elements in the studied marine environment. Very high concentrations of Zn, Cd, and Cu calculated in seawater (from 100 to 10,000 times higher than those reported for uncontaminated Mediterranean seawaters) testify to intense effects of anthropogenic impact on the harbour mainly related to the industrial and commercial activities carried out in the neighbouring area. The ensemble of the obtained results emphasizes the high potential of measurements of trace elements in the biogenic carbonates of benthic foraminifera as tracers of anthopogenic pollution of seawater and reliable proxies of potentially bioavailable forms (as free ions and/or more labile organic complexes) of seawater dissolved metals.

Heavy metals in top core sediments from the southern Campania shelf (Italy): Hints to define large-scale geochemical backgrounds

The results of a geochemical survey carried out on the southern Campania shelf (southern Italy) are illustrated, offering a tempting opportunity to discuss the statement and definition of regional geochemical backgrounds for selected heavy metals. A total of 104 top core sediments, collected on average 1.5 km from one another and covering a shelf area of about 1300 km2, were analysed for grain size, organic carbon content (OC), and heavy-metal (As, Al, Fe, Cd, V, Cr, Zn, Cu, Ni, Hg, and Pb) concentrations. The characteristics of the area, scarcely influenced by industrial activities, and the extensive data set, make this study suitable for an appropriate multivariate and spatial geostatistical methodologies used for i) a reliable definition of large-scale marine sediments’ geochemical backgrounds and ii) an accurate discrimination of different geological controls on trace-element distribution patterns. Enrichment factors estimated with respect to both the average shale composition and the weighted average metal concentrations measured in inland soils rule out significant anthropogenic inputs. A spatial-geostatistics approach (kriging of spatial component based on an accurate implementation of variographic surveying) was applied, and this is proposed as an appropriate quantitative methodology to define the geochemical backgrounds for the different heavy metals. Two nested spatial structures were identified for some of the heavy metals, thus allowing clear identification of local and regional geochemical controls related to the different spatial variability of grain size.

Planktonic foraminifera as bio‐indicators for monitoring the climatic changes that have occurred over the past 2000 years in the southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea

A high-resolution integrated study has been performed in a super-expanded marine record (sedimentation rate spanning from 11 cm/100 years to 20 cm/100 years) from the continental shelf area of the southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea. Planktonic foraminiferal distribution illustrates 6 major environmental changes during the past 2000 years: (i) the Roman Period-Dark Age transition (from herbivorous-opportunistic to carnivorous species); (ii) the Dark Age-MCA transition (from carnivorous to herbivorous-opportunistic species); (iii) the Medieval Classic Anomaly-Little Ice Age transition (a further and definitive change from carnivorous to herbivorous-opportunistic species); (iv) the period during the Maunder event between approximately 1720 AD and 1740 AD (turnover from the carnivorous planktonic foraminifer Globigerinodes ruber to the herbivorous-opportunistic planktonic foraminifer Turborotalita quinqueloba); (v) the Industrial Period (dominance of herbivorous-opportunistic planktonic foraminifera); and (vi) the Modern Warm Period at approximately 1940 AD (the last turnover in favor of herbivorous-opportunistic planktonic foraminifers, associated with an increase in benthic foraminifera). Our studies lead us to link this latter feature to an anthropogenic impact associated with the damming of Sele River (Salerno Gulf) at 1934 AD, which induced a change in the sediment input with a strong decrease in coarse-grained fraction and a probable alteration in nutrient supply. The δ(18) OG. ruber record of the past 2000 years shows the alternation of warm/wet and cold/dry events related to the Roman Period, the Dark Age, the Medieval Classic Anomaly, the Little Ice Age, the Industrial Period and the Modern Warm Period. The 5 evident δ(18) OG. ruber oscillations (between approximately 1325 AD and 1940 AD) coincide with the 5 minima in the solar activity record (Wolf, Spörer, Maunder, Dalton and Damon events).

A new tool to promote sustainability of coastal zones. The case of Sele plain, southern Italy

To support the implementation of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) plans, a quantitative methodology was assessed, fitting for both the National and Regional scale. According to the indicators proposed by the Deduce Consortium (Indicators guideline: to adopt and indicator-based approach to evaluate coastal sustainable development. Department of the Environment and Housing, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, 2007), we propose a procedure to define monothematic and synthetic indexes useful in explaining the territory status. To achieve this goal, we used a methodology implemented in a geographic information systems (GIS) framework which had allowed us to draw these indexes into maps, making them valuable tools to inform the stakeholders about the weaknesses and strengths of the coastal areas, to involve them in the ICZM implementation process according to a bottom-up approach. We present here an application of this methodology to the inland sectors of the Sele coastal plain (Tyrrhenian coast, Southern Italy), which is affected by natural hazards and territorial fragmentation. Moreover, this plain is characterized also by large untouched areas to be preserved. We illustrate for the above area, the importance of GIS to manage and integrate large amounts of numerical data, produced by several projects, realized in the past decade in the framework of the environmental management. For this purpose, monothematic and synthetic index maps have been drawn to transfer the appropriate knowledge of the territory status to stakeholders.

Sedimentological and paleontological features of sea floor sediments of penta palummo and miseno volcanic highs, gulf of naples (south-eastern Tyrrhenian sea)

A sedimentological and paleontological study has been carried out on surficial sediments of Penta Palummo and Miseno volcanic banks, in the Gulf of Naples (South-eastern Tyrrhenian Sea). The deposits consist of bioclastic sand (coralline algae, bryozoans, gastropods, bivalvs and echinoderms). The benthic foraminiferal assemblage is mainly characterized by epiphytic species. Bioclastic sand is autochtonous and derived from breakdown of algal buildups.RiassuntoUno studio sedimentologico e paleontologico è stato condotto sui sedimenti superficiali dei banchi vulcanici di Penta Palummo e di Miseno (Golfo di Napoli, Mar Tirreno sudorientale). I depositi sono costituiti da sabbie bioclastiche (alghe coralline, briozoi, gasteropodi, bivalvi ed echinodermi). L’associazione a foraminiferi bentonici è caratterizzata principalmente da specie epifite. Le sabbie bioclastiche sono autoctone e derivano dal disfacimento di biocostruzioni algali.

A multidisciplinary approach to study confined marine basins: the holobenthic and merobenthic assemblages in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Mediterranean)

Benthic foraminifera and ostracods, and resting stages (cysts) of plankton were analysed from surface sediment samples collected at 20 stations in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Mediterranean), with the aim to advance our knowledge on the biodiversity and ecological features of confined marine areas and to upgrade the autoecology of the species, and to have a more detailed and complete information to be applied as the baseline in future studies on environmental quality. In order to better assess the spatial distribution of the holobenthic and merobenthic species, we conceived a simple method of spatial analysis, based on all the identified taxa of foraminifera, ostracods and plankton cysts. Five groups were established on the basis of the number of sites per sub-basin where each taxon was registered, and this allowed us to recognise the preferential patterns of distribution for 150 species. The good correspondence between the results of the spatial analysis and those obtained from the analysis of the communities and the uni- and multivariate statistics showed a clear difference between the two sub-basins of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto.

Historical maps and satellite images as tools for shoreline variations and territorial changes assessment: the case study of Volturno Coastal Plain (Southern Italy)

Anthropic pressure has caused severe variations of Mediterranean coastal areas currently hosting about 480 million people. The replacement of natural land covers with crops and urban environment coupled with the reduction of sediment supply to the coast, subsidence, Relative Sea Level Rise and the high frequency of storm events, have caused severe shoreline erosion. In this paper, we stress the key role of historical maps, topographic maps and free satellite images to forecast the rates of coastline changes and to recognize the main features of past landscapes as tools for risk reduction. This data was recorded into a Geographical Information System dedicated to coastal management that allows to compare different coastal zones and elaborate maps. The analysis was applied to the case study of Volturno Coastal Plain (VCP), extending from the town of Mondragone to Patria Lake (Campania Region, Southern Italy). Indeed, the intense territorial modification that occurred between the seventies and eighties, coupled with the exposure to coastal erosion, make the VCP a good test area. The spatial analysis algorithms allowed to outline the main features of past landscapes and how they changed from roman times to present while the coastal evolution (erosion, accretion) and possible future coastal trend was assessed with the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. Starting from the Bourbon domain, the reclamation caused the first great territorial change (e.g. wetlands were transformed into agricultural lands, regimentation of surperficial water) but the negative effects of antrophic pressure, as the intense urbanization of the coastal belt, emerged in the seventies of the last century. The shoreline position was defined for 9 time intervals (from 1817 to 2012) as the ratio of the distance between two shorelines and the relative elapsed time. Moreover, for the 1957–1998 and 1998–2012 time windows, the shoreline trends were calculated with the weighted linear regression method. The first trend pointed out an intensive erosional phase (mean value: 5 m/yr) for a wide sector close to the Volturno River mouth, the eroded sediment nourished the beaches of other coastal sectors. This phase was related to the reduction of River sediment supply mainly due to the construction of the Ponte Annibale dam on the Volturno River. The second (1998–2012) showed an alternation of erosion and accretion sectors due to a sediment starved condition to deltaic zone and to a sequence of 52 sea protection works in the Gaeta Gulf. Furthermore, the regression values of more recent time interval, was assumed as a scenario to draw the probable shoreline position in 2022. The overlay of this shoreline on the Technical Maps of Campania Region at 1:5000 scale highlighted the urban area that could be exposed to damages.

Marine sediment cores database for the Mediterranean Basin: a tool for past climatic and environmental studies

Abstract Paleoclimatic data are essential for fingerprinting the climate of the earth before the advent of modern recording instruments. They enable us to recognize past climatic events and predict future trends. Within this framework, a conceptual and logical model was drawn to physically implement a paleoclimatic database named WDB-Paleo that includes the paleoclimatic proxies data of marine sediment cores of the Mediterranean Basin. Twenty entities were defined to record four main categories of data: a) the features of oceanographic cruises and cores (metadata); b) the presence/absence of paleoclimatic proxies pulled from about 200 scientific papers; c) the quantitative analysis of planktonic and benthonic foraminifera, pollen, calcareous nannoplankton, magnetic susceptibility, stable isotopes, radionuclides values of about 14 cores recovered by Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC) of Italian National Research Council (CNR) in the framework of several past research projects; d) specific entities recording quantitative data on δ18O, AMS 14C (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) and tephra layers available in scientific papers. Published data concerning paleoclimatic proxies in the Mediterranean Basin are recorded only for 400 out of 6000 cores retrieved in the area and they show a very irregular geographical distribution. Moreover, the data availability decreases when a constrained time interval is investigated or more than one proxy is required. We present three applications of WDB-Paleo for the Younger Dryas (YD) paleoclimatic event at Mediterranean scale and point out the potentiality of this tool for integrated stratigraphy studies.