Review of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning MSFD criteria for assessing Good Environmental Status, Descriptor 7

This report represents the result of the scientific and technical review of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU in relation to Descriptor 7. The review has been carried out by the EC JRC together with experts nominated by EU Member States, and has considered contributions from the GES Working Group in accordance with the roadmap set out in the MSFD implementation strategy (agreed on at the 11th CIS MSCG meeting). The report is one of a series of reports (review manuals) including Descriptor 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 that conclude phase 1 of the review process and, as agreed within the MSFD Common Implementation Strategy, are the basis for review phase 2, towards an eventual revision of the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. The report presents the state of the technical discussions as of 30 April 2015 (document version 7.0: ComDecRev_D7_V7.0_FINAL.docx), as some discussions are ongoing, it does not contain agreed conclusions on all issues. The document does not represent an official, formal position of any of the Member States and the views expressed in the document are not to be taken as representing the views of the European Commission.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Biology and population dynamics of Donax trunculus L. (Bivalvia : Donacidae) in the South Adriatic Coast (Italy)

Biology and population dynamics of the suspension-feeding wedge clam Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) were studied for 13 months (November 1994-April 1996) along the Italian Southern Adriatic coast near the Lagoon of Lesina. Specimens were found at depths between 0 and 2 m, mainly in fine grain bottoms. The spatial coastal distribution showed an intraspecific segregation between young and adult wedge clams. A unimodal recruitment (length >4 mm) occurred in winter (December-February). Length frequency distributions were used to determine age and growth rate. Three year classes were regularly observed and their growth pattern defined. The population showed a maximum length of 37 mm and a longevity of 4 years. Analysis of seasonal variations in the reproductive cycle showed that gametogenesis occurred in spring in females. After the spawning season (March-July) females of D. trunculus remained in a resting stage from August to January

On the use of optical remote sensing to assess phytoplankton biomass dynamics in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Ligurian-Provençal Sea)

If Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are to aid in protecting and conserving marine ecosystems in the face of extensive and severe impacts of human activities, underpinning scientific knowledge and understanding of MPAs are imperative. This study aims to describe and evaluate phytoplankton dynamics in a pelagic Mediterranean MPA (The Pelagos International Marine Mammals Sanctuary) in the north-western Mediterranean Sea as a means to understand better the spatial and temporal distribution of basal ecosystem resources. Ocean colour data collected by orbital remote sensing (Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor [SeaWiFS] data) were analysed to elucidate spatial and temporal variations in the concentration of chlorophyll-like pigments (chl). Mean chl images were generated for consecutive 10-day periods, to provide quasi-continuous coverage of the study area, combined with a Principal Component Analysis and analysis of a time series ​(1998–2004). The chl surface patterns traced seasonal upwelling events recurring annually, demonstrating the critical role of physical oceanography in sustaining the food web of the PelagosSanctuary. Phytoplankton blooms, however, differ in terms of peak timing, spatial distribution and chl concentration, due in part to the influence of broad-scale environmental factors that are beyond direct and regional control. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between the biomass of primary and secondary producers to understand better the implications of phytoplankton biomass distribution in space and time for charismatic and protected biota such as cetaceans

ANALISI INTEGRATA DELLE VARIABILI AMBIENTALI NELLE ACQUE DELL’AREA MARINA

L’ambiente marino costiero è un sistema complesso la cui gestione richiede il coinvolgimento di differenti discipline e la notevole capacità di integrazione fra osservazioni molto eterogenee. E’ in fase di messa a punto di un sistema di osservazione dell’ambiente marino nell’AMP di Portofino. L’idea è quella di sviluppare un monitoraggio dai costi contenuti, che sia in grado di evidenziare le fenomenologie prevalenti sia di tipo fisico che biologico e permetta di cogliere eventuali situazioni anomale rispetto ad una climatologia di riferimento. L’acquisizione dei dati si avvale di differenti piattaforme sia locali che remote e di differenti strategie di campionamento ed elaborazione.PublishedViareggio (Italia)3.7. Dinamica del clima e dell'oceanoope

A preliminary analysis of in situ and remotely sensed environmental variables in the coastal region of the Portofino Marine Protected Area

Coastal marine environment is a complex system and its management requires adequate information. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are considered pilot sites useful to define innovative tools for the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). Their management however requires acquaintance with the relationships between the protected site and the status of the coastal neighbouring areas in order to assess mutual effects and influences. There is the need of monitoring systems capable of highlighting physical and biological phenomena, and possible oceanographic anomalies at local scale, to assess possible existing differences between MPAs and their neighbouring unprotected zones. The present study proposes an integrated analysis of data sets coming from in situ and remote-sensing data to evaluate the reliability of satellite sensors for coastal zone monitoring and to better understand the short-term environmental dynamics on a coastal area centred on the Portofino MPA (Ligurian Sea)