Environmental anthropogenic impact on Polychaeta of Adriatic Sea of the Salento peninsula (Italy)

Polychaete marine community distribution (specimens and species) along the coast of the Villanova (Brindisi, Italy) has been investigated. Two sites were sampled: the Port of Villanova and the sea at the outflow of a stream-channel, 1.5 km distant from the Port. The benthonic substratum was sampled for Polychaeta and other biota during March, May and July 2010. The collected Polychaeta were counted and classified. At the Villanova Port were recovered 21 species and 127 specimens of Syllidae and Orbiniidae, with a maximum of 66 specimens in July. At the second site we found only 15 specimens of Sabellidae during May 2010. Water quality and polychaete population have been treated by statistical methods to find the relationship between anthropogenic activities, climatic variables and polychaete population distribution. Finally, actions necessary to re-address the marine ecosystem at Villanova to the uncontaminated status, have been focalized by means of STELLA model.