ºÚÁÏÍø

ISSN: 2157-7625

Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
ºÚÁÏÍø

Our Group organises 3000+ Global Events every year across USA, Europe & Asia with support from 1000 more scientific Societies and Publishes 700+ ºÚÁÏÍø Journals which contains over 50000 eminent personalities, reputed scientists as editorial board members.

ºÚÁÏÍø Journals gaining more Readers and Citations
700 Journals and 15,000,000 Readers Each Journal is getting 25,000+ Readers

This Readership is 10 times more when compared to other Subscription Journals (Source: Google Analytics)
  • Editorial   
  • J Ecosys Ecograph 2023, Vol 13(2): 379
  • DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625.1000379

Encased in Sediments, Edna Reconstructs the Ecosystem History of One of Europe’s most Polluted Seas

Marina Dell Bono*
Department of Environmental Science, University of Essex, United Kingdom
*Corresponding Author: Marina Dell Bono, Department of Environmental Science, University of Essex, United Kingdom, Email: Marina3@hotmail.com

Received: 03-Feb-2023 / Manuscript No. jee-23-88811 / Editor assigned: 06-Feb-2023 / PreQC No. jee-23-88811 (PQ) / Reviewed: 20-Feb-2023 / QC No. jee-23-88811 / Revised: 22-Feb-2023 / Manuscript No. jee-23-88811 (R) / Published Date: 28-Feb-2023 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625.1000379

Abstract

The Anthropocene is distinguished by dramatic ecosystem changes caused by human activity. Different geochemical and paleontological proxies can be used to assess the impact of these activities. However, each of these proxies provides only a sliver of an understanding of the effects of anthropogenic impacts. It is extremely difficult to reconstruct the state of ecosystems from the preindustrial period to the present day, taking into account all biological components ranging from prokaryotes to multicellular eukaryotes. We used sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) archives that included all trophic levels of biodiversity to reconstruct the two-century natural history of Bagnoli-Coroglio (Gulf of Pozzuoli, Tyrrhenian Sea), one of Europe’s most polluted marine-coastal sites. Until the beginning of the year, the site was distinguished by seagrass meadows and a high eukaryotic diversity. The ecosystem then underwent a complete transformation, with seagrasses and associated fauna, as well as diverse groups of planktonic and benthic protists, being replaced by a low diversity biota dominated by dinophyceans and infaunal metazoan species. The sedaDNA analysis revealed a five-phase evolution of the area, with changes appearing as a result of a multi-level cascade effect of industrial activities, urbanisation, water circulation, and landuse changes. The sedaDNA allowed us to infer reference conditions that must be considered when implementing restoration actions.

Keywords: Seabirds; Bio indicators; Predators

Keywords

Anthropocene; Ecosystem; eDNA

Introduction

The increasing human impacts and concurrent threat to environmental resources at both the global (i.e., climate change) and local (e.g., pollution, overexploitation) scales have resulted in the Anthropocene Epoch being defined (Lewis and Maslin, 2015). Environmental degradation is widespread in marine environments, particularly in coastal ecosystems, which are the primary global economic assets in terms of ecological services (Costanza et al., 1997, Keyes and McLaughlin, 2021). The impact on coastal marine ecosystems has far-reaching consequences, including the extinction of species (Barnosky et al., 2011, Dirzo et al., 2014), the impairment of ecological functions (Obura et al., 2021), and the loss of ecosystem goods (Worm et al., 2006). As a result, monitoring changes in marine biodiversity at various spatiotemporal scales becomes necessary. [1-5].

Radiometric analyses and geochronology

Gamma spectrometry analyses of 20 g geometry of slightly ground sediment samples were performed to determine 210Pb and 226Ra activities. Delbono et al. describe calibration, quality checks, and measurement procedures (2016). The difference between the total 210Pb and the fraction in equilibrium with the parent radionuclide 226Ra was used to calculate the excess 210Pb (210Pbex) activity. The sediment layers’ compaction was accounted for using mass depth (g cm2). To determine the age of each layer of the sediment core, the Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) model (Appleby and Oldfield, 1978) was used, with a CRS of unsupported 210Pb. Using data from 226Ra activities, the 210Pb dating was validated and extended over several centuries. In fact, the ejected sediments by Vesuvius volcanic activities are marked by a high 226Ra concentration (Voltaggio et al., 2004), and its recent historical activity (1631-1944) is well-known and continuous (Scandone et al., 2008) giving a series of well-recognized time-markers: in the AB01 sediment core, 226Ra peaks due to Vesuvius eruptions in 1944, 1906 and 1822 were identified.

Conclusion

The ecosystem then underwent a complete transformation, with seagrasses and associated fauna, as well as diverse groups of planktonic and benthic protists, being replaced by a low diversity biota dominated by dinophyceans and infaunal metazoan species. The sedaDNA approach allows us to disentangle the multi-level cascade effects of industrialization, bringing to light pre-industrial reference conditions and demonstrating that good ecological conditions have not fully recovered after 20 years of decommissioning. [6- 10].

Acknowledgement

This research was made possible by the ABBaCo project, which was funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University, and Research under grant number C62F16000170001. Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn provided M.L. Romero-Martnez with a PhD fellowship. The Swiss National Science Foundation grant 31003A 179125 supported I.B.A. and J.P.

Potential Conflict of Interest

The author has no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Granados JAT, Ionides EL, Carpintero O (2012) . Environ Sci Pol 21: 50-62.
  2. , ,

  3. Murray J, King D (2012) Climate policy: oil's tipping point has passed. Nature 481: 433.
  4. , ,

  5. Beni AN, Marriner N, Sharifi A, Azizpour J, Kabiri K, et al. (2021) .
  6. , ,

  7. Zenghelis D (2006) . HM Treasury, London, England.
  8.  , ,

  9. Van Lavieren H, Burt J, Cavalcante G, Marquis E, Benedetti L, et al. (2011) . UNU-INWEH, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
  10. ,

  11. Burt JA, Paparella F, Al-Mansoori N, Al-Mansoori A, Al-Jailani H (2019) . Coral Reefs 38: 567-589.
  12. , ,

  13. UNDP (2010) . United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Arab States, Arab Human Development Report, UNDP.
  14. Alothman A, Bos M, Fernandes R, Ayhan M (2014) J Geodyn 81: 105-110.
  15. ,

  16. Mathers E L, Woodworth PL (2004) .QJR Meteorol Soc 130: 725-738.
  17. , ,

  18. Gurevich AE, Chilingarian GV (1993) J Pet Sci Eng 9: 239-250.
  19. , ,

Citation: Bono MD (2023) Encased in Sediments, Edna Reconstructs the Ecosystem History of One of Europe’s most Polluted Seas. J Ecosys Ecograph 13: 379. DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625.1000379

Copyright: © 2023 Bono MD. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

International Conferences 2025-26
 
Meet Inspiring Speakers and Experts at our 3000+ Global

Conferences by Country

Medical & Clinical Conferences

Conferences By Subject

Top