Geomorphology of the continental shelf of Tavolara Island (Marine Protected Area ‘Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo’ – Sardinia NE)

Abstract

In this document a geologicalgeomorphological map in scale 1: 25,000 is presented. The study area is located inside the Protected Marine Area Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo, in northeastern Sardinia. The study was done through integrated analysis of multibeam bathymetric and very high-resolution side scan sonar data, acquired in an area of 163 km 2 with the purpose of mapping the main biocoenoses and with particular reference to the coralligenous bioconstructions and the distribution of Posidonia oceanica. The interpretative hypotheses, based on the analysis of geophysical data, have been validated through diving surveys. This map represents a fundamental knowledge base and it constitutes an important technical-scientific support for long-term planning and management of the studied seabed.

Seafloor Map of the Alghero Bay (Sardinia, Italy)

“…It has been estimated that only 5-10% of the seafloor is mapped at a comparable resolution to similar studies on land (Wright & Heyman, 2008). Furthermore, marine ecosystems are poorly described compared to their terrestrial counterparts (Deiana et al, 2019). On land, the proportion of unknown habitats has been estimated as 17% whilst for the marine realm, it has been estimated as 40% (EC, 2007).…”

“…The mapping of marine habitat plays a key role in the management and conservation of natural systems and provides the spatial framework for ecosystem-based management (EBM) (Deiana et al, 2019). It has been estimated that only 5-10% of the seafloor is mapped at a comparable resolution to similar studies on land (Wright & Heyman, 2008).…”

“…In Sardinia, the coastal ecosystem is an area of complex interaction between geological, ecological and anthropogenic processes. The study of these processes is of basic importance for the implementation of ecosystem-based management of the sea and in assessing the consequences of human activities (Deiana et al, 2019;De Luca et al, 2018;De Muro et al, 2018;Manca et al, 2013).…”

Geomorphology of Canyon Outlets in Zrmanja River Estuary and Its Effect on the Holocene Flooding of Semi-enclosed Basins (the Novigrad and Karin Seas, Eastern Adriatic)

“…Following an extensive literature review [1,3,5,6,12,49], we calculated a range of secondary features to classify and interpret the collected MBES bathymetry, MBES backscatter, and SSS data. ArcGIS with the Spatial Analyst extension to do the DTM, shaded relief, and slope analyses.…”

“…The rapid development of swath acoustic techniques has enabled seabed mapping at high spatial resolutions and accuracies. The results of the high-resolution acoustic technologies, such as multibeam echosounder (MBES) bathymetry, MBES backscattering, sub-bottom profiling (SBP), side-scan sonar (SSS), and their derivatives, represent an excellent platform for geomorphological and geological classifications of the seabed [1][2][3]. Despite the problems regarding the acquisition of the data in shallow water or problems related to the incident angle due to steep slopes [4], MBES bathymetry data and quantitative terrain indices, such as the slope, curvature, and roughness, prove to be very useful as a tool for seabed characterization (best summarized by [5,6]).…”