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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Short-term effect of human trampling on the upper infralittoral macroalgae of Ustica Island MPA (western Mediterranean, Italy)
Marco MilazzoRenato ChemelloFabio BadalamentiSilvano Riggiosubject
Mediterranean climateCanopyMediterranean seabiologyEcologyCommunity structurePlant coverEnvironmental scienceMarine protected areaAquatic ScienceCystoseiraTramplingbiology.organism_classificationdescription
The short-term response of Mediterranean upper infralittoral macroalgal species to experimental human trampling was investigated. Disturbances of six different intensities were applied within the integral reserve of the Ustica Island marine protected area (Italy, Mediterranean Sea). The dominant macroalgal species Cystoseira brachicarpa v. balearica and Dictyota mediterranea were strongly affected by human trampling. Higher levels of disturbance significantly affected both algal percentage cover and canopy at an increasing rate. Three months after trampling, for both variables it was highlighted that the algal recovery from disturbance was incomplete, being significantly different among trampling intensities. The current study revealed that in the short-term it was not possible to identify critical levels of trampling that are sustainable for this shallow community.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-10-01 | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |