Sediment Carbon Variations in the Venice Lagoon and Other Transitional Water Systems of the Northern Adriatic Sea

Sediment carbon variations in the Venice Lagoon and adjacent transitional water systems exhibit strong correlations with anthropogenic impacts, particularly eutrophication and clam-fishing activities. Inorganic carbon (Cinorg) is linked to sediment origins—carbonate or siliceous—and its levels, along with organic carbon (Corg), fluctuate significantly under different environmental pressures. Higher sediment density, grain size, and pH are associated with good ecological conditions, marked by increased biological inorganic carbon such as shell fragments and calcified macroalgae. Conversely, Corg, indicative of eutrophic conditions, is heavily influenced by sediment disturbance and high bivalve concentrations, which accelerate its consumption. The study analyzed surface sediments from 1987 to 2011, integrating data from the Venice Lagoon, Po Delta lagoons, Comacchio Valleys, and Pialassa della Baiona, revealing nuanced relationships between carbon dynamics and ecological health in these vulnerable coastal ecosystems.

Sfriso, A., Buosi, A., Tomio, Y., Juhmani, A.-S., Chiesa, S., Greco, M., Gazzola, C., Mistri, M., Munari, C., & Sfriso, A. A. (2020). Sediment Carbon Variations in the Venice Lagoon and Other Transitional Water Systems of the Northern Adriatic Sea. Water, 12(12), 3430. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123430