Assessing pressure drivers on the benthic ecosystem in the coastal zone of Western Messinia, Greece

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107935
• Publication Date: 2022-06-10T02:01:21Z
• Authors: Laura Bray; Sarah Faulwetter; Helen Kaberi; Aristomenis P. Ka...; Erasmia Kastanidi; Nikolaos Katsiaras; Alexandra Pavlidou; Nikolaos Providakis; Kaliopi Sigala; Emanuela Voutsinas; Christina Zeri; Sofia Reizopoulou
• Keywords: Natura 2000; Water Framework Directive

The Messinia region, located in the South – West of Peloponnese, Greece, is an ecologically valuable area comprising several important coastal habitats (including lagoons, seagrass meadows, and Mediterranean rhodolith beds) eliciting its inclusion Natura 2000 network. Land-based anthropogenic pressures are likely to influence ecological status this zone. Here we identify those regional use physico-chemical elements ecosystem, macrofauna communities assess level environmental degradation lagoon water bodies. High organic load from catchment area, geomorphological hydrological features bodies major drivers affecting quality region. severely degraded due both a high nutrient input surrounding river basin (likely agricultural run-off), relatively low connectivity with marine environment (due alterations hydrology). In contrast, zone classified as being at or good seems scarcely impacted by pressures. macrobenthic reflect how vulnerable multiple stressors (and particular practices), highlight necessity defining implementing holistic, river-basin based management plans for Gialova lagoon, Messinia.