Holocene ecosystem shifts and human-induced loss of Arca and Ostrea shell beds in the north-eastern Adriatic Sea

摘要: The molluscan assemblages in a sediment core from the north-eastern Adriatic show significant compositional changes over past 10,000yrs related to (1) natural deepening driven by post-glacial sea-level rise, (2) increasing abundance of skeletal sand and gravel, (3) anthropogenic impacts. transgressive phase (10,000-6000 BP) is characterized strongly time-averaged communities dominated infaunal bivalves. During early highstand (6000-4000 BP), epifaunal filter feeders grazers increases, gastropods become more important. Epifaunal dominance culminates during late (4000-2000 with development extensive shell beds formed large-sized Arca noae Ostrea sp. This community persists until 20th century, when it falls victim multiple impacts, mainly bottom trawling, substituted an infauna-dominated indicative instability, disturbance organic enrichment. re-establishment this unique shell-bed ecosystem can be goal for restoration efforts.