Implementation of a new Nondestructive Phytobenthic Index (NPI) with the Posidonia Biotic Index (BiPo) to evaluate the ecological status of the Turkish Aegean coasts (Eastern Mediterranean).

The ecosystem status of the Aegean Sea coasts of Türkiye (Eastern Mediterranean) was assessed using the Biotic Index based on Posidonia oceanica (BiPo) and a newly proposed Nondestructive Phytobenthic Index (NPI), according to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000/60/EC). In addition, their relationships with the Macroalgae-Land Uses Simplified Index (MA-LUSI) were evaluated. The descriptors measured through the NPI included the shoot density, cover, depth and lower limit type of the Posidonia meadows and cover of the other macrophytic communities; Cymodocea/Zostera, canopy-forming brown, coralligenous, opportunistic, and alien macroalgae. The good status was expressed by the mean value of the BiPo (0.69) at 20 sites, while the moderate status was expressed by the NPI (0.59) at 25 sites. Simultaneous implementation of the biotic indices proved their consistency (r = 0.745), while negative relationships between the MA-LUSI and the BiPo (r = -0.243) and NPI (r = -0.450), underlined their capability to assess the degradation of macrophytic communities in anthropized regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]