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Environmental quality assessment of Grand Harbour (Valletta, Maltese Islands): a case study of a busy harbour in the Central Mediterranean Sea

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Abstract

Contamination levels by plastic debris, trace elements and persistent organic pollutants were assessed and related to macrobenthic diversity within soft bottoms of Grand Harbour (Malta, Central Mediterranean). Sediment toxicity was evaluated by ecotoxicological method, deploying Bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), Echinodermata (Paracentrotus lividus) and Crustacea (Corophium orientale). Univariate analysis (Pearson’s test) was used to test relationships between biodiversity indices, pollutants and grain size. A multivariate approach (PERMANOVA) was applied to investigate for any significant differences among sampling stations concerning plastic abundances and to test the relationship between infaunal abundances and pollutant concentrations (the BIOENV test). Significant differences in the plastic abundances were found between sampling stations. The lowest value for Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index was associated to the highest sediment pollution level. Multivariate analyses suggest that MBT and TBT were factors that most influenced macrozoobenthic abundance and biodiversity. The bivalve Corbula gibba and the introduced polychaete Monticellina dorsobranchialis were the most abundant found species

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to G. Valastro, senior manager of ARPA Institute of Siracusa and project manager of the European Biodivalue Project (PO-Italy Malta 2007-2013) that co-financed this research. We are also grateful to Pietro Vivona for the collaboration in the database of the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Ichthyology and Marine Ecology, Milazzo, Messina, Italy

    Teresa Romeo, Michela D’Alessandro, Valentina Esposito, Gianfranco Scotti & Franco Andaloro

  2. ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Chioggia, Italy

    Daniela Berto, Malgorzata Formalewicz & Seta Noventa

  3. ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Livorno, Italy

    Silvia Giuliani, Simona Macchia & Davide Sartori

  4. ARPA, Regional Agency for Environmental Protection, UO Siracusa, Italy

    Angelo Mazzola

  5. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d’Alcontres, 31, Messina, Italy

    Salvatore Giacobbe

  6. Physical Oceanography Unit, University of Malta, Msida, Malta, Italy

    Alan Deidun

  7. Bioscience Research Center, Via Aurelia Vecchia, 32, Orbetello, Grosseto, Italy

    Monia Renzi

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  1. Teresa Romeo
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  14. Alan Deidun
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  15. Monia Renzi
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Correspondence to Teresa Romeo.

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Romeo, T., D’Alessandro, M., Esposito, V. et al. Environmental quality assessment of Grand Harbour (Valletta, Maltese Islands): a case study of a busy harbour in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Environ Monit Assess 187, 747 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4950-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4950-3

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