@article {Moreno:2008gd,
	title = {An assessment of the spatial heterogeneity of environmental disturbance within an enclosed harbour through the analysis of meiofauna and nematode assemblages},
	journal = {Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science},
	volume = {77},
	year = {2008},
	pages = {565-576},
	publisher = {ACADEMIC PRESS LTD ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD},
	address = {24-28 OVAL RD, LONDON NW1 7DX, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {Significant spatial heterogeneity in the abundance and composition of meiofaunal and nematode assemblages was described inside the Genoa-Voltri harbour (Genoa, Italy) in relation to variation in the main environmental variables. In harbour sediments characterized by low Eh values and high organic matter concentrations, total meiofauna abundance was lower (948 +/- 919 ind 10 cm(-2)), nematode individual biomass was higher (0.17 +/- 0.07 mu g C), kinorhynchs and tanaids were completely absent, and the nematode assemblage was dominated by the genera Terschellingia, Sabatieria (pulchra group) and Paracomesoma. In contrast, in sediment characterized by lower levels of organic pollution, meiofaunal abundance was higher (1085 737 ind 10 cm(-2)), nematode individual biomass was lower (0.11 +/- 0.04 mu g C), kinorhynchs and tanaids were present and the nematodes were dominated by the genera Desmodora, Daptonema, Anticoma and Halalaimus. Environmental disturbance as assessed by the analysis of meiofaunal and nematode assemblages and sediment environmental variables changed significantly over a scale hundreds of meters, but did not follow a gradient from the inner to the outer harbour. Analysis of nematode assemblages is proposed as a useful tool for the identification of environmental risk areas which may assist in the development of good planning, monitoring programmes and better management of harbour ecosystems. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
	keywords = {harbours, meiofauna, nematodes, organic matter, sediment},
	doi = {DOI 10.1016/j.ecss.2007.10.016},
	author = {Moreno, M. and Ferrero, T. J. and Gallizia, I. and Vezzulli, L. and Albertelli, G. and Fabiano, M.}
}
@article {Pusceddu:2009qd,
	title = {Organic matter composition, metazoan meiofauna and nematode biodiversity in Mediterranean deep-sea sediments},
	journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part Ii-Topical Studies In Oceanography},
	volume = {56},
	year = {2009},
	pages = {755-762},
	publisher = {PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD},
	address = {THE BOULEVARD, LANGFORD LANE, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD OX5 1GB, ENGLAND},
	abstract = {To identify the relationships between the abundance and biodiversity of deep-sea meiofauna and their food resources in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea), we have investigated the quantity and biochemical composition of sediment organic matter, the metazoan meiofauna abundance and biomass, and the nematode biodiversity at meso- (> 50 km) and/or local (< 1 km) scales. Sediment samples were collected at four deep-sea sites (from 3430 to 3581 m in depth), two of which were close to two seamounts. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences at both the meso- and local scales (i.e. between sites and between stations at each site), and showed that the variability at the mesoscale was much higher than that at the local scale. The values of all of the investigated variables were generally lowest in sediments surrounding the seamounts, suggesting a role for these submersed structures in the abundance of the metazoan meiofauna and their resources. The nematode assemblage composition changed significantly across the four sites. Among the 96 identified nematode species, 14 were exclusively seen in sediments around the two seamounts, and only three species were present at all sampling stations. Differences in the trophic structures of the nematode assemblages were also linked with differences in the biochemical composition of sediment organic matter. These results indicate that high beta-diversity in soft sediments around deep seamounts is associated with diversification of the benthic food webs, and suggest that while making the sediments poorer for food availability for benthic consumers, the presence of seamounts enhances the biodiversity in neighbouring sediments. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
	keywords = {Deep-sea sediments, Mediterranean Sea, meiofauna, nematodes, organic matter, Seamounts},
	doi = {DOI 10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.10.012},
	author = {Pusceddu, Antonio and Gambi, Cristina and Zeppilli, Daniela and Bianchelli, Silvia and Danovaro, Roberto}
}
