A management oriented 1-D ecosystem model: Implementation in the Gulf of Trieste (Adriatic Sea).

In this paper a coupled physical-biogeochemical one-dimensional numerical model (BFM-POM 1D) was implemented in the Gulf of Trieste, (northern Adriatic Sea) and its structure was tested in order to evaluate its usability as a tool to support coastal management and planning. The evaluation concerned the ability of the model to reproduce the main trophic pathways, as well as their temporal variability, in terms of seasonal variations. The ecosystem structure comprised three phytoplankton groups, four zooplankton groups, one bacterial group, and a simple benthic return in order to parametrise benthic processes. The dynamics and interactions between groups were studied, as well as the model's sensitivity to different trophic web configurations. Results showed that the model was capable of replicating the behaviour of seasonal vertical profiles of the major biogeochemical elements, and the prevalence of the microbial food web shaping the trophic chain in the Gulf of Trieste. The model also responded to strong forcings at the surface and different trophic arrangements, thus providing initial evidence of its potential as a scientific tool aimed at marine coastal management

Role of meteorological, hydrological and biogeochemical forcings on carbonate system variability at PALOMA station (Gulf of Trieste)

The Gulf of Trieste is the Northernmost area of the Adriatic Sea and, as other shallow shelf areas, is more influenced by exchanges with the atmosphere than deep seas. Hence, it is thought to be highly sensitive to the effects due to the increase of CO2 dissolved in seawater induced by global atmospheric CO2 increase. The most concerning consequence of CO2 dissolution in marine waters is the decrease of pH: a process commonly referred to as "ocean acidification". On the other hand, the dynamics of carbonate system in this coastal zone are also influenced by the variability of oceanographic conditions, mainly induced by meteorological and hydrological forcings, and by production and regeneration processes. We present preliminary results of a monitoring activity started in January 2008, addressed to a better comprehension of the effects of meteorological forcings and biogeochemical processes on the carbonate system and pH in the Gulf of Trieste. Real-time meteorological data, hydrological and biogeochemical monthly sampling were collected in the site of the mast PALOMA, located in the centre of the gulf (25 m of depth). During 2008, the highest values of pHT, (spectrophotometric method, Total scale, 25?C), were measured in the upper layer during summer (pHT=8.120), as a result of a event of production. A strong thermohaline stratification of the water column occurred from June to beginning of August, when remineralization processes in the deeper waters (AOU>142.87 μM -O2) released CO2 (fCO2=1044 μatm) and caused a decrease of pHT (7.648). This process was probably interrupted by one unusually storm event with strong wind (up to 163 km/h) that occurred on 08/08/2008, since in September the water column appeared well ventilated. Total alkalinity (TA) concentrations were modulated both by river inputs and by biogeochemical processes, as the remineralization of organic nitrogen coupled to ammonia production, which determined the maximum values of TA in August and November (up to 2693 μmol/kg)

Seasonal response of benthic foraminifera to anthropogenic pressure in two stations of the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea, Italy): the marine protected area of Miramare versus the Servola water sewage outfall

A seasonal survey of living benthic foraminifera was performed in 2013 in the Gulf of Trieste (N Adriatic Sea) to compare two marine coastal sites with different degrees of anthropogenic influence. An assessment of ecological quality statuses showed that the station located near the end of an urban pipeline (Ser station), has worse ecological conditions than the site located in a protected marine area (Res station) all year around. Stressed conditions at Ser station were mainly related to high contents of total organic carbon (TOC) and Zn in the bioavailable fraction, which were a limiting factor for the studied foraminiferal communities. Ammonia tepida, Bolivina spp., and Bulimina spp., which characterised this station, were the most tolerant taxa of the studied assemblage. Conversely, Elphidium spp., H. depressula, N. iridea, Quiqueloculina spp., R. nana and Textularia spp., could be considered less tolerant species as they benefitted from the less stressful conditions recorded at Res station, despite slightly higher concentrations of some potentially toxic elements (PTEs), especially Pb, being recorded in this station in comparison to Ser station. Furthermore, foraminiferal assemblages were found to be quite resilient over an annual cycle, being able to recover from a seasonal unbalanced state to a mature one. The beginning of spring and latest summer would be the best period to assess the ecological quality status to avoid any under- or overestimation of the health of the environment

Carbonate system dynamics in the Gulf of Trieste (North Adriatic Sea)

We present first results of a study started in January 2008 and focused on the analysis of the variability of carbonate system in the Gulf of Trieste (N. Adriatic Sea). Total alkalinity, pH, and mayor physical and biogeochemical parameters were measured at PALOMA station (centre of the Gulf). We evidenced the role of direct inorganic carbon riverine inputs, sea water temperature and production / regeneration processes as mayor drivers of the observed carbonate system variability during the studied period

Opažanja u obalnom području u okviru ADRICOSM projekta: Tršćanski zaljev

In the framework of the ADRICOSM project, from October 2002 to September 2003, a coastal observing system network was set up in the Gulf of Trieste. During this period, 36 CTD cruises were performed over a grid of 19 stations. An accurate data acquisition and quality check protocol was implemented for data decimation and smoothing. However, data analysis showed that conductivity/ salinity spikes were recorded at the depth of the very sharp thermocline observed in summer 2003. The exceptionally high salinity waters and the marked thermocline observed in the Gulf of Trieste in spring and summer 2003 directed us to compare the distributions of the temperature and salinity fields observed during ADRICOSM cruises with the available climatological values of the Gulf of Trieste, in order to assess whether the data collected during this research deviated significantly from the climatology.U okviru projekta ADRICOSM, od listopada 2002. do rujna 2003. godine, provedeno je 36 krstarenja tijekom kojih se uzorkovalo CTD sondom na 19 postaja u Tršćanskom zaljevu. Posebna pažnja je posvećena kvaliteti podataka. Tijekom ljeta 2003. godine opaženi su nagli skokovi vrijednosti saliniteta i gustoće (tzv. “spikes”) u području izražene termokline. U proljeće i ljeto 2003. godine vrijednosti saliniteta bile su izrazito visoke. Polja temperature i saliniteta određena za to razdoblje uspoređena su s postojećim podacima ne bi li se utvrdilo koliko odstupaju od prosjeka

The carbonate system in the Gulf of Trieste: a two years time series at PALOMA station

In the framework of VECTOR project (activity 6.2.2), pH, Total Alkalinity (AT) and physical/chemical parameters were acquired on a monthly basis since January 2008, in the water column at the PALOMA site (Advanced Oceanic Laboratory PlatforM for the Adriatic sea, Gulf of Trieste, 25m depth ). The pH was measured by the spectrophotometric method (precision ? 0.003) and the results expressed on "total scale" at 25?C (pHT@25?C). AT was measured by potentiometric titration at 25?C (precision ? 3 Qmol/kg) and the results were checked against sea water certified as reference material. The other parameters of the carbonate system (pCO2, DIC, CO3 =, lAr, lCa) were computed from pH, AT, salinity, temperature, SiO2, PO4. To our knowledge this is the first time series of these parameters collected in the North Adriatic Sea. These data allowed an initial identification of roles played by biological ad physical factors in controlling the carbonate system dynamics and the pH annual cycle. During the stratified period (April to September), CO2 uptake by primary producers in the upper layer (DO sat > 100 %, Fig 1) determined the highest annual values of pHT@25?C in both years (Fig 1). By contrast, remineralization processes generally prevailed in the deeper waters undersaturated of oxygen (DO down to 48%, Fig 1) and the minima annual values of pHT@25?C were reached. From January to March of both years the water column was homogeneous and cold, reaching the lowest annual temperatures (down to 8.8 ?C). The pHT@25?C values were generally low and constant and the oxygen saturation was around 100 %. These characteristics indicated that biological processes were playing a minor role in determining the observed values of pHT@25?C while physical factors as temperature induced CO2 solubilization were more important. AT concentrations (median value 2633 Qmol/kg) were higher than in open Mediterranean sea (~ 2600 Qmol/Kg ) due to the inflow of rivers with a carbonatic drainage basin. AT variability was mainly modulated by riverine inputs with variable AT concentrations and by the occurrence of strong remineralization processes in the bottom layer (Aug.- Nov. 2008, up to 2658 Qmol/kg, S=37.5) as shown by the relationship with AOU. The seasonal evolution of in situ pCO2 was deeply influenced by the variations of temperature that modulated not only CO2 solubility but also the chemical equilibria between carbonate species. Despite the production processes in the upper water column during summer, pCO2 values were higher than 400 Qatm on the whole water column, from July to December 2008 and from August to October 2009. During these months the Gulf of Trieste was thus acting as a potential CO2 source. In contrast, from January to June of both years, pCO2 values were always lower than 400 Qatm and the Gulf was a CO2 sink (up to -19.0 mmol C m-2 d-1, on 14 Jan 2009) especially during high wind events. An exception to this trend were the high pCO2 value (up to 606 Qatm) observed in April 2009 and May 2008, in surface low salinity waters (S down to 27.6 psu), which were ascribed to the ventilation of CO2 from supersaturated riverine waters

Testing the cognitive-behavioural maintenance models across DSM-5 bulimic-type eating disorder diagnostic groups: A multi-centre study

The original cognitive-behavioural (CB) model of bulimia nervosa, which provided the basis for the widely used CB therapy, proposed that specific dysfunctional cognitions and behaviours maintain the disorder. However, amongst treatment completers, only 40–50 % have a full and lasting response. The enhanced CB model (CB-E), upon which the enhanced version of the CB treatment was based, extended the original approach by including four additional maintenance factors. This study evaluated and compared both CB models in a large clinical treatment seeking sample (N = 679), applying both DSM-IV and DSM-5 criteria for bulimic-type eating disorders. Application of the DSM-5 criteria reduced the number of cases of DSM-IV bulimic-type eating disorders not otherwise specified to 29.6 %. Structural equation modelling analysis indicated that (a) although both models provided a good fit to the data, the CB-E model accounted for a greater proportion of variance in eating-disordered behaviours than the original one, (b) interpersonal problems, clinical perfectionism and low self-esteem were indirectly associated with dietary restraint through over-evaluation of shape and weight, (c) interpersonal problems and mood intolerance were directly linked to binge eating, whereas restraint only indirectly affected binge eating through mood intolerance, suggesting that factors other than restraint may play a more critical role in the maintenance of binge eating. In terms of strength of the associations, differences across DSM-5 bulimic-type eating disorder diagnostic groups were not observed. The results are discussed with reference to theory and research, including neurobiological findings and recent hypotheses

Interannual evolution of seasonal thermohaline properties in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic) 1991-2003

Temperature and salinity data, collected by conductivityžtemperatureždepth cruises over the Gulf of Trieste during 1991-2003, were analyzed using different methods..

Climatic and Anthropogenic Impacts on Environmental Conditions and Phytoplankton Community in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea)

During the last century, human activities have exerted an increasing pressure on coastal ecosystems, primarily inducing their eutrophication, with a more recent partial mitigation of this phenomenon where improvements of environmental management practices were adopted. However, a reanalysis of the pressures on coastal zones and surrounding drainage basins is needed because of the alterations induced nowadays by the climate changes. A comparative analysis of long-term oceanographic and environmental data series (1986–2018) was performed, in order to highlight the effects of anthropogenic and climatic disturbances on the phytoplankton community in the Gulf of Trieste (GoT). After the 1980s, the decline in phytoplankton abundance was matched to increasing periods of low runoff, an overall deficit of the precipitation and to a decrease in phosphate availability in the coastal waters (−0.003 µmol L−1 yr−1), even in the presence of large riverine inputs of nitrogen and silicates. This trend of oligotrophication was reversed in the 2010s by the beginning of a new and unexpected phase of climatic instability, which also caused changes of the composition and seasonal cycle of the phytoplankton community. Beyond the management of nutrient loads, it was shown that climatic drivers such as seawater warming, precipitation and wind regime affect both nutrient balance and phytoplankton community in this coastal zone