Biofouling Role in Mariculture Environment Restoration: An Example in the Mar Grande of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea)

The biodiversity of macrobenthic invertebrates two artificial hard substrates close to a mariculture plant was assessed in order understand the effect on fouling community an innovative Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system. examined were ( i ) vertical bare collectors that are placed around cages as new colonizable substrates, which investigated from early colonization and ii already present under analyzed over time observe changes due action water column by filter feeder organisms colonizing above collectors. Overall, 186 taxa collected (both substrates), 99 sessile habitat-former or structuring macroinvertebrates 87 associated fauna, mostly vagile forms. On 121 collected, among 44 species 77 vagile-associated taxa; cages, 124 identified, 95 belong first category 29 taxa. shared 43% (40) 22% (19). At end year experimentation, study revealed Sabella spallanzanii mussels most abundant Lastly, communities showed increase after placement attributed decrease particulate matter originating wastes breeding cage, intercepted developed