Temporal variations in assemblages of decapod crustaceans in seabed areas of continental margins depend on a complex and poorly understood interplay of physical and biological factors. In deep-water areas, decapods still show complex regulation of their swimming and walking activity rhythms in response to the day-night cycle and seasonal variations in the length of the photoperiod (reviewed by Naylor 2005; Aguzzi et al. 2008b, c). This occurs for the response of species' biological clocks to light intensity cycles (Naylor 2005). Accordingly, thousands of individuals move synchronously through different depth strata at different times (reviewed in Lagardère either burrowers that dig tunnels or, alternatively, buriers that simply cover themselves with sediment (Bellwood 2002). AbstractThe day-night cycle is one of the strongest geophysical cycles modulating species' behavioral rhythms. However, in deep-water continental margins, where light intensity decreases over depth, interspecific competition may alter behavioral responses to day-night cycles. The burrowing decapod crustacean Nephrops norvegicus is a large-size predator in benthic communities, exerting despotic territorial behavior. In this study, we analysed how the effect of light intensity cycles on decapod behavioral rhythms is reduced as one moves from shelves to slopes. In the Western Mediterranean, the predatory behavior and interspecific competition for substrate use of Nephrops increases moving from the shelf (100-110 m) to the slope (400-430 m). Vector fitting and generalized additive models were used to assess the effect of light intensity and behavioral rhythms of N. norvegicus on the temporal variation of prey decapods co-occurring in trawl tow catches carried out on the shelf and the slope during October 1999 and June 2000. The combination of diel variations in light intensity and N. norvegicus abundance influences the activity rhythms of prey decapods in a depth-and seasonal-dependent manner. Light modulation is stronger on the shelf and weaker on the slope, where Nephrops population size is greater. Although present regression analysis does not necessarily imply a direct causeeffect relationship between rhythms of predators and prey, we suggest that Nephrops alters the temporal patterning in the behavior of its prey on the slope, where light intensity is reduced. This alteration is stronger in endobenthic species than in benthopelagic species; the former rely on bottom substrate for the expression of behavioral rhythms, experiencing stronger interspecific competitions with Nephrops at time of activity.

This paper describes a decision-support system based on landscape ecology and focused on the study of ecosystems' health. System capabilities are illustrated with three cases of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), in the Adriatic Sea (Italy): the lagoon of Venice and the Rimini and Ancona coastal areas. Indicators and indices are developed with a focus on sub-regional and local problems in coastal management, with a multi-scale approach based on landscape and seascape ecology. Land-use changes of the coastal areas were detected by analyzing two sets of satellite images. Indices combining satellite imagery, socio-economic and environmental indicators, and landscape and seascape maps were created, showing ecological changes, habitat loss and gaps in conservation policy. The approach used provides means for the identification of conflicts and for the assessment of sustainability. Results show that the lagoon of Venice plays an important role in mitigating and compensating the impacts of human activities, and needs to be protected and restored. The Rimini area shows high ecological footprint and development-intensity and low biocapacity. The Ancona area needs the protection of its natural coastal space from potential sources of anthropogenic impacts to maintain its sustainability. A model of environment changes is critical for formulating effective environmental policies and management strategies. The developed decision-support system provides a suitability map per each area analyzed, which can be used in order to maximize different policy objectives and reduce coastal conflicts.

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In the paper, we present a Planning Framework for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). The points of strength of the framework are the following: It is an iterative and participatory process; It is scenario-based and model-based; It uses a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) as enabling infrastructure; The SDSS is “powered” by open data and data systematically updated by public bodies. The theoretical starting point is ICZM requires decision support tools to cope with knowledge from multiple sources, interdisciplinarity and multiple scales (e.g., spatial, temporal or organizational) [ 1 ]. The 2007 Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union [ 2 ] is a key document to understand the relationship between coastal and marine information and policy implementation. It shows that it is necessary to develop a marine-coastal Decision Support System [ 3 , 4 ] based on indicators and indices (aggregations of indicators into a synthetic representation), use of Geographic Information Systems, models and multicriteria assessment of scenarios [ 5 , 6 ]. The system of indices is used to describe the complexity of a coastal system: geo-ecological level, land processes, human society, economy, and coastal uses at multiple scales [ 5 , 7 ]. Multicriteria assessment is a tool to support social and environmental decisions in the perspective of sustainability and strategic planning [ 8 – 11 ]. During the design phase of the SDSS components (basic data, indicators and models), it was performed a review of the Land Use/Land Cover change simulation models. The output of the review was the choice of SLEUTH model [ 12 ]. The framework was tested on a study area (Veneto Region - Italy). In the test we coupled SLEUTH with Fragstats [ 13 ] for the analysis of landscape ecology metrics.