1. MED-GIG: Mediterranean Coastal
Milestone 6 Report
MED-GIG: Mediterranean Coastal
Member States:
France
Greece
Italy
Spain
Cyprus
Malta
Slovenia
Croatia
Coordinator:
Gianna Casazza, Italy

2. Background information 1
COASTAL WATERS: Common intercalibration types
TYPE
TYPE NAME
SUBSTRATUM
(1)
DEPTH
(2)
CW- M1
Rocky, shallow coast
rocky
shallow
CW- M2
Rocky, deep coast
deep
CW- M3
Sedimentary, shallow coast
sedimentary
CW- M4
Sedimentary, deep coast
(1) In many cases different seabed substrata will occur within one water body type. The dominant substratum should be selected
(2) Depth division is based on 30 m depth at 1 mile distance from the coastline.

3. Background information 2
Countries participating for each type & BQE/pressures
All the 7 EU countries, plus Croatia (AC), participated to common group work
- countries’ participation differs in the 4 BQE subgroups
Common IC types, initially considered:
BQEs SUBGROUPS
TYPES included
PRESSURES
PHYTOPLANKTON
IT, ES, SL, GR, F + Cr
no M4
ALL
BENTHIC INVERT. FAUNA
IT, ES, GR, F, Cy
Only M2 and M3
MACROALGAE
GR, ES (recently IT, F)
ANGIOSPERMS: Posidonia oceanica
IT, ES, F, Malta
No types distinction
Presently the Phytoplankton subgroup has revised the Type distinction and, analyzing data, is trying to define 2/3 water bodies coastal types that are significant for phytoplankton (i.e. according to water column characteristics).

4. MED-GIG subgroups: Phytoplankton: IT, ES, SL, GR, F + Croatia
Macroalgae: GR, ES
+ recently IT, F
Angiosperms: Posidonia oceanica: IT, ES, F, Malta
Benthic Invertebrates: IT, ES, GR, F, Cy

5. IC approach
General IC approach (which IC option 1, 2, 3 or hybrid was used)
1. Common metrics, common method
2. Common metrics, different method
3. Different metrics, different method
Mainly hybrids
PHYTOPLANKTON
1 common metric (chl a)
Different tentative data analysis (methods)
Phytoplankton: options 1-2
Macroinvertebrates: options 2-3
MACROINVERTEBRATES
3 classification methods under test
based on species ecological values
Some different metrics
Macroalgae: options 2-3
MACROALGAE
2 classification methods, based on species ecological values
Some different metrics in the 2 methods
Angiosperms (P.oceanica): option 3
ANGIOSPERMS: P. oceanica
special case: 1 species
many methods
different metrics

6. Data
Which data was used to set the boundaries applying the BSP (e.g. common GIG dataset [option 2], separate MS data sets [option 3]
Phytoplankton: BSP not applied yet; common GIG data set for chl a and nutrients is under study
Macroinvertebrates: not applicable as GIG; some MSs (Greece and Cyprus) used their MS data set
Macroalgae: Greece and Spain (Catalonia) used their MS dataset
Angiosperms (P.oceanica): each participating MS used its own data set. Common agreement on the boundary between good/moderate was reached based on a joint exercise among the different classification methods (using different metrics).

7. National classification methods 1
1. PHYTOPLANKTON: no national methods (1 common metric chl a, under study, as biomass indicator)
2. BENTHIC
Invertebrate Fauna
Assessment Methods
combine species (comp.& abun.) with ecological evaluation assigned to species
Status
EQR setting
Cyprus
Bentix C
(finalized)
yes
France
Multimetric approach (AMBI, Shannon Diversity, BQI Trophic Index) D
under development  no
Greece
Italy
AMBI with factor analysis No
Spain - Catalunya
Multivariate analysis
Spain- Balearic is.

8. National classification methods 2
3: MACROALGAE
Assessment Method
Status
EQR setting
Greece
EEI C
Yes
Spain - Catalunya
CARLIT/BENTHOS B
officially accepted
Spain – Valencia
Spain – Balearic Is
4: ANGIOSPERMS
(Posidonia oceanica)
Assessment Method
Status
EQR setting
France
Yes D
yes
Italy
Yes (POSWARE) C
Malta
Spain - Catalunya
Yes (POMI ) B
Spain – Valencia

9. Vertical Density Gradient
PHYTOPLANKTON
Large amount of data
High variability in format, timescales: difficult immediate comparison
no fully developed WFD compliant classification
Vertical Density Gradient
N Adriatic System
Tyrrhenian System
Use of [chl a] as initial intercalibration metric for biomass comparison
importance of physico-chemical data: chl a and physico-chemical parameters gathered and analysed in a common way
identify coastal waters types, significant for phytoplankton, based on vertical stability (density gradient) of the water column

10. AQUATIC FLORA: Macroalgae
2 classification systems tested:
combine coverage (%) with ecological evaluation assigned to species
EEI
(Ecological Evaluation Index)
(Orfanidis et al, 2001)
BENTHOS - CARLIT
(Pinedo et al, 2006, Ballesteros et al, 2006)
upper infralittoral communities: macroalgae + some fauna spp sensitivity ordered against pollution gradient
+ cartography, spatial databases
abundance of: late successional spp vs opportunistic spp

11. Pollution gradient Sensitivity gradient Biological Indicators
Cystoseira sp.
Blue-green algae
Corallina sp.
Lithophyllum incrustans
Ulvacean algae
Mytilus sp.
Lithophyllum byssoides
There are a lot of studies about upper infralittoral communities. Some of these studies are related to species specific sensitivity or changes induced by anthropogenic disturbances.
With all this available information is possible to order the species in front of a pollution gradient.
As you can see the species presented in polluted sites, like blue green algae or ulvacean algae have a low sensitivity, and the species that we can observe in unpolluted sites, like Cystoseira species, have a high sensitivity.
This methodology that we will present is based on the study of these communities as biological indicators.
Sensitivity gradient
-sensitivity
+sensitivity
Benthic communities reflect the environmental changes of littoral waters quality

12. BENTHOS - CARLIT A B C D axis II axis I
Pinedo et al, Ballesteros et al, 2006
“Sensitivity level (SL)” is quoted from 1 to 20 for every community (worst to the best) based on “expert” judgement
axis I
axis II A B D C
Data analysis
Species x stations
Multivariate methods (DCA, CA, MDS)
Environmental and biological variables: Pearson correlations, ANOVAs, DCCA, CCA

13. Ecological Evaluation Index
- Thick leathery, jointed calcareous, crustose
groups
- Low productivity
- Perennials
- Competitors
e.g. Cystoseira, Corralina, Hydolithon
- Sheet filamentous coarsely branched groups
- High productivity
- Annuals
- Ruderals
e.g. Ulva, Cladophora, Enteromorpha
ESG I
ESG II
Ecological State Groups
EEI
Ecological Evaluation Index
(Orfanidis et al. 2001)
Mean abundance (%) of ESG I
Mean abundance (%) of ESG II
>60
BAD
LOW
MODERATE
>30-60
GOOD
0-30
HIGH
The ecological status is determinated with the absolute abundance (the coverage in percentage) and this matrix.

14. Corallina spp.
Cystoseira spp.
ESG I
Seagrasses
Peyssonelia spp.

15. Caulerpa spp.
Dictyota spp.
ESG II
Ulva spp.
Ceramium spp.

16. AQUATIC FLORA: Angiosperms
WFD requirements:
- composition
abundance
Normative Definitions:
Disturbance-sensitive taxa, angiosperms abundance
P. oceanica chosen as representative of angiosperms: sensitivity and response to disturbance, wide distribution, and the existing knowledge
Angiosperms in the MedGIG, a special case:
The Posidonia Group
Composition: only 1 species - P.oceanica (no variability in composition)
Abundance: abundance is not considered as one and only metric – In this case: the descriptors are the metrics (descriptors of Posidonia quality, not only of its abundance).

17. Posidonia subgroup
Different classification systems have been proposed:
POMI (Catalunya)
(Romero et al, 2005)
POSWARE (Italy)
(Buia et al, 2005)
French system
(Pergent et al.)
Different selections of descriptors
Different analytical methods
Maltese system
(Debono & Borg, 2006)
Valencian system

18. P. oceanica classification systems in the different participating countries, at present

19. Setting of Reference conditions 1
Common approach for setting of reference conditions
There is not a common approach for RCs: each BQE subgroups identified, agreed, or are still discussing, Reference Conditions.
Reference criteria
BQE 1: PHYTOPLANKTON:
different RC according to different water types.
Two (or more) coastal types,significant for phytoplankton, (based on water column stability) are under development
Then, for each type, sites at high status will be considered
BQE 2: BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE FAUNA:
There is no common view/agreement on RC. Some countries have identified existing reference sites/conditions, others consider virtual reference conditions.
Needs to consider different sub-regions and differences in the reference values for different habitats (e.g. muddy/sandy bottoms, within each typology).

20. Setting of Reference conditions 2
Reference criteria
BQE 3: MACROALGAE:
Reference sites have been identified according to the low pressures and impacts they receive. In both methods (EEI and BENTHOS/CARLIT) the reference sites are real sites (existing)
BQE 4: ANGIOSPERMS (P. oceanica): common view on RC:
RC is type independent
-       RC are defined at sub-ecoregional level (east/west, insularity …)
-       RC is depth dependant (meadows at different depths)
-       for some metrics, RC are also season dependant (eg. shoot area)
Some countries: pristine sites exist, used as reference site (after evaluation),
Others: they do not exist, expert judgment and modeling in combination
Ex. of RC( for Italy):
distance from impact, legal protection status, land use, absence of impact and biological assessment

21. Setting of Reference conditions 3
Reference sites
For some BQE and country, reference sites and criteria (reference values) are available.
e.g. Macroalgae:
Greek approach (EEI): there is data available on Greek Natura 2000 database
Catalan approach (BENTHOS-CARLIT): data is available in CEAB-CSIC
Benthic Invertebrate fauna:
Greece and Cyprus identified reference stations with real data. Available at HCMR

22. Benthic Invertebrate fauna:
Setting of Boundaries
Common approach for setting of boundaries
Procedure, relationships, results
Phytoplankton:
No clear correlation between pressures and chl a was found, so class boundaries could not be defined by discontinuities in the pressure vs. chl a diagram.
Procedure for setting the H/G boundary has been agreed
The boundary between high and good will be set according to the 90th percentile for chl a data
Benthic Invertebrate fauna:
only Greece and Cyprus have already completed the BSP
no common agreement has been achieved by others.

23. Angiosperms (P.oceanica):
Setting of Boundaries
Macroalgae:
Boundaries are set according to expert judgment and/or results of multivariate analysis
No statistical analysis exclusively to set boundaries
No discontinuities. Continuum of possibilities with gradual disappearance/appearance of different indicator species
Angiosperms (P.oceanica):
No agreement concerning the BSP
Agreement on Good/Moderate boundary for the different methods: application of WFD conceptual definition of the good/moderate boundary to sites to identify the boundary in each respective EQR scales. The results:
Malta=0.55
Italy=0.62
France=0.5
Valencia=0.54
Catalunya=0.6
Experts agreed on EQR=0.55 as the threshold for the good/moderate discrimination.
No further agreements about the other class boundaries were reached

24. How common intercalibration types and common boundaries will be transformed into the national typologies/assessment systems
NOT APPLICABLE

25. For TRANSITIONAL WATERS:
Workplan for the continuation of the IC (1)
For COASTAL WATERS:
No complete IC exercise was achieved in all the subgroups but macroalgae, where still more progress can be made.
Continuation of the IC is highly recommended, for at least 1 year for each BQE (longer in some cases).
For TRANSITIONAL WATERS:
No IC exercise was done: lack of submission of sites and data, from most MSs.
Nevertheless work has started in most MSs
In the last MED-GIG meeting (Setè, March 06) the first TW expert group met to foresee possible future activities.
An agreed document was prepared and signed by the experts (TW Agenda for WFD implementation in the Mediterranean ecoregion)
- formalisation of the TW expert working group
- re-evaluation of the proposed Typology
- organisation of the existing data on hydro-geomorphological features of Mediterranean TW into a Mediterranean data-base
- selection of type-specific ecosystems to be inscribed into the Official IC register

26. Benthic invertebrate fauna:
Workplan for the continuation of the IC (2)
COASTAL WATERS
Phytoplankton:
Criteria chosen need validation:
identify coastal waters types (2/3), significant for phytoplankton, based on vertical stability (density gradient) of the water column
Need to further investigate relationship between pressures and [chl a]
Benthic invertebrate fauna:
IC exercise requires at least 2 more years
Some countries (e.g. Italy) need to collect additional data to further test the methods identify reference conditions and apply the BSP
Other countries (e.g. Slovenia) will be able to produce data and join the IC exercise in the next future
Croatia is willing to participate, contributing with data
Need to consider different sub-regions, differences in the reference values for different habitats (e.g. muddy/sandy bottoms, within each typology)
Collecting new data with standardized methods in similar habitats.

27. Angiosperms (P.oceanica):
Workplan for the continuation of the IC (3)
COASTAL WATERS
Macroalgae:
- Involvement of other countries and test the 2 methods in other water bodies
- Research: Studies on the processes that drive structural changes of macroalgal communities, subjected to water pollution, for further ecological evaluation of the status of the aquatic ecosystem
Angiosperms (P.oceanica):
- enlargement and improvement of national databases
- involvement of other MSs not present until now in the process, widening the geographical range of the group
- performing specific joint field work, carrying out a real IC on sites, testing the different methods

28. Overview table MED-GIG CONCLUSIONS
- Classification approches at BQEs level: not yet integrated approach
Large amount of data from Mediterranean scientific community
- Some tentative tools for analytical applications
PHYTOPLANKTON
1 commom metric
tentative data analysis on 2 main water types
(vertical stability)
ANGIOSPERMS:
P. oceanica
special case:
1 species
many methods
different metrics
Agreements:
- different RC
(sub-ecoregional)
MACROINVERTEBR
3 classification methods
Problems:
- data lack
- comparability
Tentative RC:
Eastern
Western
MACROALGAE
2 classification methods
IC: ok
Agreement on: - RC
- species ecological values

29. Main problems, gaps, difficulties encountered in the process of IC
- Very limited time: 1 year, the MED-GIG started in Feb 05
- No financial support from any EU project, in all the Mediterranean MSs
- No IC on Transitional Waters
Remarks
- the amount of data carried out
    - 3 EU new countries (on the total 7) participating in the Group
-   - 1 accession country (Croatia) participation
Need of particular consideration to the Mediterranean ecoregion issues, where the majority of the coastal countries are not European