Variabilità temporale della comunità macrobentonica nelle valli di Comacchio (Adriatico settentrionale) in relazione ai cambiamenti climatici [Long-term temporal variability of macrobenthic community in valli di Comacchio lagoon (Northern Adriatic) in relation with climate changes]

time series data of macrobenthic invertebrates of Valli di Comacchio lagoon (northern Adriatic) from 1996 to 2015, was analyzed using Biological Traits Analysis, structural indices, AMBI and M-AMBI indices, with the aim to test the influence of climate changes, in terms of temperature and precipitation pattern, on macrobenthic dynamics. Along the studied period macrobenthic community showed marked fluctuations, in terms of richness, diversity, biological traits and ecological groups, related with environmental instability of the lagoon, which suggests a certain resilience of the community. Nevertheless, a general tendency towards a deterioration of ecological condition of the lagoon was observed. All metrics used are consistent in identifying the response of benthic community to a severe disturbance, likely related with the summer heatwave in 2003. Less marked signs of disturbance were observed also in relations to the thermal anomaly of 2012. Our results suggest that the expected increase in frequency, magnitude and duration of heatwaves could pose serious threat to the resilience capacity of lagoonal macrobenthic community.