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Venice Lagoon Project (SIOSED) July 2005

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Venice Lagoon Project (SIOSED) June 2005

Development of faunal and biogeochemical pollution proxies in the Venice Lagoon, Italy (part of an interdisciplinary Scripps team of Co-PIs)  Together with a team of Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientists and Italian scientists (Thetis), in June 2005 we conducted experiments and seafloor sediment sampling of the Venice Lagoon in order to better understand the biogeochemical impacts of pollutants within the sediments.  One goal is to develop microfaunal and biogeochemical indicators of contaminants in order to monitor pollution impact and recovery.  Samples were collected by Geologist  Dr. Tony Rathburn and undergraduate geology major Jared Kluesner.

Venice Project Researchers from ISU: Dr. Tony Rathburn, Dr. Elena Perez, Jared Kluesner, Chandranath Basak, and Brian Wrightsman

Project Abstract:

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL COMPARISONS OF LIVING BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA FROM THE VENICE LAGOON, ITALY

BROUILLETTE, Ellen R.¹, RATHBURN, Anthony E.¹, PÉREZ, M. Elena, ¹ KLUESNER, Jared W.¹, GRAY, Cassie J.¹, BASAK, Chandranath, ¹ GIESKES, Joris

(1) Geography, Geology, and Anthropology, Indiana State University, Science Building 159, Terre Haute, IN, 47809, Ellen Brouillette, Tony Rathburn, Jared Kluesner, (2) Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0218, Joris Gieskes

Examination of living (rose Bengal stained) foraminiferal assemblages from the Venice Lagoon revealed patterns that may be related to levels of sediment contamination. Ammonia sp., Haynesina sp., and Quinqueloculina sp. dominated assemblages at sites collected along transects in June, 2005 and 2006. Differences in the percentages of different taxa between sites may reflect changes in the availability of contaminants along the transect.  Differences in aberrant morphologies between sites were not as pronounced as expected based on previous studies in other regions. This research is part of an ongoing, international study (SIOSED) to assess biological responses to sediment conditions in the Venice Lagoon. The "SIOSED" project is part of a comprehensive effort to support the integrated management of Venice Lagoon sediments and ecosystems promoted by the Venice Water Authority through its Concessionary, Consorzio Venezia Nuova.


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Department of Earth and Environmental Systems