Biomonitoring in the lake littoral using invertebrate fauna associated with sandy sediments: a short synthesis.

This paper presents a synthesis of the results obtained from a series of investigations carried out over twenty years on the invertebrates associated with littoral sandy shores of lakes in Central Italy. These studies were aimed at collecting data about the biodiversity of this community and at identifying parameters useful for the quality monitoring of lake shores directly exposed to various anthropogenic impacts. A total of 186 taxa were identified, 57% of which belonging to oligochaetes, chironomids and nematodes. With regard to environmental diagnosis the results have validated the classic bioindices (diversity and evenness) as well as the more specific bioindices (N/T ratio, Maturity index), the latter two based on the importance as bioindicators of oligochaetes, especially tubificids, and secondarily of nematodes. In addition, the presence and abundance of cladocerans and molluscs, some of which are sensitive to environmental modifications, has proved a useful support for evaluation. Furthermore it emerged that the need to safeguard biodiversity and to control quality changes over time justifies further efforts to improve biomonitoring procedures based on this community.