The geochemical evolution and management of a coastal wetland system: A case study of the Palo Laziale protected area

Wetlands are unique ecosystems with high biodiversity. Knowledge of the ecology of these systems is important for their preservation. The area investigated in this study is located in the town of Ladispoli, in the province of Rome. In June 1995, the Palo Laziale wood was identified as a Site of Community Importance according to the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). This habitat has been drastically reduced due to the expansion of agricultural activities and urbanisation.Both chemical and isotope data provide important information for understanding the processes that determine the variation in chemical composition within a coastal wetland system. The spatial and temporal variation in chemical composition and the 87Sr/86Sr isotope composition of the individual water bodies within the system were measured over an annual cycle. We also compared geochemical data from 2010 with data collected during April 2002. The results of the geochemical analysis suggest that the waters are brackish (TDS>1000mg/l), but these results exclude seawater intrusion as a possible cause of the deterioration of the wetland ecosystem. Based on a comparison of the data from 2010 and 2002, the system appears to have been resilient, successfully buffering the changes without substantial alterations in its functioning. Our investigation shows that geochemical research is necessary to understand the modifications affecting wetland ecosystems and the role of human-induced changes. The monitoring data for the water resource in the Palo Laziale area provided evidence that slight changes have occurred over an eight-year period. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.