Recovery of the macrobenthic community in the Valli di Comacchio, northern Adriatic Sea, Italy.

The macrobenthic community structure of the Valli di Comacchio (Northern Italy) was described in order to assess the ecological conditions of the main basins through 2001. In addition, the biotic data set gathered in 1997-98 was compared to achieve an estimation of the eventual recovery of the lagoonal benthic assemblages. Four permanent sites (P1, M4, M5 and M6), located along a gradient of sediment texture and confinement, and representing 4 different areas of the lagoon, were sampled quarterly in 2001 for macrofauna and sedimentary variables (organic content, phytobenthic chlorophyll-a, depth of RPDL), and fortnightly for water variables (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and planktonic chlorophyll-a). Water and sedimentary variables were typical of eutrophic areas. A total of 52 macrobenthic taxa were identified and, on the basis of the species collected, differences in faunal distribution among the 4 areas were recognized, although less marked than in previous studies. Sediment trophic status and its seasonal dynamics in the Valli were crucial in determining species distribution among the different areas. The comparison between 1997-98 and 2001 biotic data indicated that conditions in the lagoon had improved, especially in the formerly most impaired, central area (M6). In the Valli di Comacchio, the recovery of benthic communities after severe disturbance will probably take longer, even if sewage discharges have been removed 11 yr ago. Secondary disturbance due to scarce water circulation, sharp temperature and salinity fluctuations, release of toxic substances from sediments influenced animal assemblages along spatial and temporal scales. The interplay of these variables probably caused deviations from the expected improvement in benthic conditions. Nevertheless, clear signs of amelioration, particularly at the previously most impaired area, were detectable