Macrozoobenthic assemblages and leaf epiphytes associated with a Posidonia oceanica meadow restored

Abstract

The restoration of marine phanerogams is one of the key points of the Italian Green Deal to promote the recovery of associated biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, long term studies on the effectiveness of restored meadows to recover the pristine conditions and to sustain the associated biological communities are still scarce. Macrozoobenthic assemblages (polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms) and leaf epiphytes (encrusting algae, erected algae, bryozoans, hydroids, foraminifers, spirorbids, and ascidians) were investigated in a Posidonia oceanica meadow restored in 2009 at Ischia Island (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea). The samplings were performed in 2018 to compare associated organisms of the meadow restored with those of the neighbouring natural P. oceanica meadow. Lower values of species richness and abundance were observed in the macrozoobenthic assemblages inhabiting restored meadow if compared to the assemblages of natural meadow. No differences of leaf epiphytes of P. oceanica were highlighted between restored and natural meadow.