Biodiversity studies at macrobenthic community level in the Lido Basin (Lagoon of Venice): a review

Population and community level processes are important measures of the relevance of global climatic changes and local disturbance (Pearson & Barnett, 1989). Human societies affect relationships between abiotic and biotic compartments of the ecosystem acting on bio-geochemical cycles on one hand and on population and community dynamics on the other hand. Therefore, biodiversity appears as the tangible currency, which is influenced by, and reflects, the state of the ecosystems (Barbault & Hochberg, 1992). Biodiversity studies at community level consider how species assemblages form communities and interact with the environment to form ecosystems. Every species is identified by morphology and autoecology (physiological adaptations, feeding habit, life cycle, interspecific relationships), which define its functional role. The knowledge of functional diversity of the community provides information on main ecological processes, which maintain its structure and functioning (Piraino & Fanelli, 1997). Based on these considerations, a research on the existing macrobenthic community studies was begun in the northern basin of the lagoon of Venice. The objective is to identify assemblages of species with the main distribution and ecological role and thus to reconstruct the scenario of macrobenthic community distribution at different times, pointing out, if possible, temporal changes in relation to environmental changes. Data come from three studies carried out on the shallows: unpublished data of Giordani Soika consented by "Museo Civico di Storia Naturale" of Venice, the book "Le alghe della laguna di Venezia" (Comune di Venezia-Assessorato all'Ecologia, 1991), a report provided by Ministero dei Lavori Pubblici - Magistrato alle Acque (Biotecnica, 1994).