Synoptic representation of P.oceanica ecosystem services in the Italian seas

This work analyzes and quantifies the value of ecosystem services in the P.oceanica meadows of the Italian seas, defining methodological approaches and creating synoptic maps through the use of GIS. Ecosystem Services can be defined as benefits provided to mankind by natural ecosystems. Their contribution is essential for human progress and of fundamental importance in the long run.

Posidonia oceanica was chosen as the object of study because its meadows represent one of the Mediterranean "climax community". P. oceanica is, therefore, one of the most important ecosystem in the Mediterranean and has been indicated as "priority habitat" according to the Habitat Directive (Dir. N. 92/43 / EEC), which groups together all the Sites of Community Importance (SCI) that need to be protected.

The method of evaluating the ecosystem services for P.oceanica is derived from what reported in Costanza et al. (1997) applying the specific site approach for the definition of benefits and services (Marcelli et al. 2018).

The identified benefits for P.oceanica are carbon sequestration, oxygen production, erosion protection, bioremediation and food production.

P.oceanica data are organized from the dataset collected by the Italian Institute for the Protection of the Environment and Research (ISPRA) for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and include parameters such as coverage and shoots number (m²), average leaf area, leaf area index, average number of leaves, average height of the rhizomes, average foliar and rhizomes production. The data were used for the calculation of the benefits of P. oceanica which are represented in synoptic maps through GIS with the creation of the Atlas of the values ​​of ecosystem services in the Italian seas.