AUTHOR=Dimitriou Panagiotis D. , Santi Ioulia , Moraitis Manos L. , Tsikopoulou Irini , Pitta Paraskevi , Karakassis Ioannis 

TITLE=Benthic–Pelagic Coupling in the Oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean: A Synthesis of the HYPOXIA Project Results

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.886335

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2022.886335

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Benthic pelagic coupling studies have shown that the response of the benthic system to eutrophication is subject to complex nonlinear dynamics with specific thresholds beyond which abrupt changes in the response of the ecosystem occur and time lags between inputs and responses. The “HYPOXIA: Benthic-pelagic coupling and regime shifts” project, aimed to investigate how nutrient input in the water column, results in ecological processes of eutrophication, which may lead to significant, irreversible, within a short period of time changes in the eastern Mediterranean marine ecosystems. The project included analysis of historical water and benthic data, field sampling and mesocosm experiments. From the project results, the  it can be concluded that nutrient inputs are quickly capitalized by small phytoplankton species in the water column resulting in bloom of specific species with high nutrient uptake capabilities. When Eutrophic Index values (calculated using nutrient and Chlorophyl a concentrations) crosses the Moderate to Poor threshold, the precipitating organic matter can cause observable effects on the benthic system. Depending on eutrophication intensity and persistence, the effects can start from microbenthos, meiofauna and macrofauna increase in abundance and biomass to significant changes in community structure. The latter includes proliferation of macrofaunal opportunistic species, increase of deposit feeders and high risk of ecosystem quality degradation. However, contrary to other regions of the world, no water hypoxia or benthic dead zones were observed as chlorophyll-a and O2 concentrations showed a positive correlation. This is caused by the high photosynthetic activity of the phytoplankton and microphytobenthos, increased bioturbation of macrofauna as well as increased abundance of sediment deposit feeding species which quickly consume the excess organic matter. Eastern Mediterranean coastal ecosystems show high resilience to the adverse effects of eutrophication preventing hypoxia and azoic conditions when eutrophication is the only source of environmental disturbance.