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Saprobity: a unified view of benthic succession models for coastal lagoons

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Abstract

We briefly review and expand upon classic conceptual models describing the succession of benthic communities along a gradient of organic matter (OM) enrichment developed for freshwater (the Saprobity System), coastal marine (the Pearson–Rosenberg [P–R] model) and lagoon (the Guélorget–Perthuisot [G–P] model) ecosystems. Differences and similarities between various approaches and models are highlighted and the P–R and G–P models are unified under a single conceptual framework of habitat saprobity in coastal lagoons. We refer to saprobity as the state of an aquatic ecosystem resulting from the input and decomposition of OM and the removal of its catabolites. In addition to other factors, such as salinity, saprobity is viewed as a selection factor for species diversity. The higher the saprobity is, the more impaired the system is, with progressively poorer benthic communities characterized by species that are increasingly tolerant of reducing conditions and toxicity. In coastal lagoons, these processes are strongly driven by hydrodynamics, which govern the land–sea gradient. Based on our review and analysis, we find that saprobity can be a useful descriptor of ecosystem state as determined by OM metabolism, suitable for characterizing the natural conditions of coastal lagoons and assessing their quality.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments, opinions and criticisms from our handling editor, P. Viaroli, and two anonymous referees, which helped us improve an earlier version of this manuscript and to clarify the concepts expressed therein. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under Grant Agreement No. 266445 for the project Vectors of Change in Oceans and Seas Marine Life, Impact on Economic Sectors (VECTORS) for PM.

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  1. CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, ISMAR Istituto di Scienze Marine, Arsenale – Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122, Venezia, Italy

    Davide Tagliapietra, Marco Sigovini & Paolo Magni

  2. CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, IAMC Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero, Località Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09170, Oristano, Italy

    Paolo Magni

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  1. Davide Tagliapietra
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  2. Marco Sigovini
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  3. Paolo Magni
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Correspondence to Paolo Magni.

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Handling editor: Pierluigi Viaroli

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Tagliapietra, D., Sigovini, M. & Magni, P. Saprobity: a unified view of benthic succession models for coastal lagoons. Hydrobiologia 686, 15–28 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1001-8

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