Abiotic and Biotic Links Work Two Ways: Effects on the Deposit at the Cliff Foot Induced by Mechanical Action of Date Mussel Harvesting (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lithophaga lithophaga</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | Alessio Rovere Stefano Bellati Valeriano Parravicini Marco Firpo Carla Morri Carlo Nike Bianchi |
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Institution: | 1.DipTeRis, Dipartimento per lo studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse,Università di Genova,Genoa,Italy |
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Abstract: | The existence of linkages between ecological and geomorphological processes and the influence of human activities both on
the biota and on geomorphology is well known for terrestrial environments, while it has been seldom reported for submerged
ones. A survey in the Noli-Bergeggi area (NW Mediterranean Sea) has been carried out to test the hypothesis that the harvesting
of Lithophaga lithophaga has an impact not only on the hammered rock, but also on the sediments at the cliff foot. Size and roundness of pebbles have
been measured at different stations and statistical analyses have been used to test the differences between impact and control
situations. Results show a dependence of the roundness of pebbles on the date mussel harvesting, indicating a decrease both
of the roundness index and of its variability at the cliff foot in impacted sites. Conclusions stress the biogeomorphological
nature of this activity, not limited to the present location. |
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