Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436

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Ecological Indicators
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ecolind

Donax trunculus (Bivalvia: Donacidae) as a potential biological indicator of

grain-size variations in beach sediment
Paola La Valle a,∗ , Luisa Nicoletti a , Maria Grazia Finoia a , Gian Domenico Ardizzone b
a
ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), Via di Casalotti 300, 00166 Rome, Italy
b
Department of “Biologia Ambientale”, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Viale dell’Università 32, 00185 Rome, Italy

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Donax trunculus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most common bivalve molluscs inhabiting the sandy
Received 11 February 2010 shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This species, which is preferentially distributed on sediments at depths
Received in revised form 11 March 2011 between 0 and about 2 m, is considered to be a substrate-sensitive organism because of its sensitivity
Accepted 11 March 2011
to sediment grain size variations during its life cycle, in particular during its early growth stages. This
study aims at investigating the relationship between D. trunculus’ density distributions and sediment
Keywords:
grain size, in order to evaluate its use as a biological indicator of grain-size variations in beach sediment.
Donacidae
For this purpose, a specific environmental study was performed by ISPRA (Italian National Institute for
Indicator species
Sandy beaches
Environmental Protection and Research) along six beaches located in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea between
Mediterranean Sea Ladispoli and Anzio (Rome, Italy). On each beach, samples of D. trunculus and superficial sediments were
collected in the infra-littoral zone at 3 different depths (0, 0.5, and 1 m) between June 2002 and March
2004. The results pointed out that the distribution of D. trunculus populations is strongly influenced by
the sediment’s grain size variations. A significant positive correlation was found between species density
and the 2.00-phi and 2.50-phi grain size classes; but, in particular, the predominance of the 2.00-phi grain
size class in the beach’s sediment seems to positively influence the species density and distribution.
This study suggests that sediment grain size is the chief factor controlling the distribution of D. truncu-
lus populations; suitable grain sizes allow the settlement and the subsequent growth of well-structured
populations. Generally, species density declined in areas subjected to grain-size variations in beach sed-
iments, suggesting a predictable biological response to both natural and human-caused stressors. The
present study also highlighted that where nourishment was carried out using suitable sediments, the
species reappears on the beach after a few months, as it finds an optimal substrate for settlement. In this
case, finding D. trunculus specimens a few months after replenishment indicates that the nourishment
operations have been successful from an environmental point of view. As reported by Carignan and Villard
(2002), a species that is strongly associated with particular habitat features could be a useful indicator;
in particular, a species – like D. trunculus – that is negatively associated with human disturbances could
be considered a “positive” indicator of ecological integrity.
Long-term monitoring of D. trunculus abundance or density on sandy beaches (adequately carried
out during the species’ recruitment period, e.g. between July and September), could help pinpoint the
presence of natural or human-made phenomena that are leading to grain-size variations in the sediment.
In conclusion, we can assume that D. trunculus can be used as a practical biological indicator to detect
grain size variations on sandy beaches in coastal monitoring programmes; it could be a useful tool for
researchers, managers and administrators to assess erosion phenomena while minimizing times and
costs, also in view of an integrated coastal zone management.
© 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction nal of changes in the environment, or to diagnose the cause of

Nowadays, biological indicators are mainly used to assess the
conditions of the environment, to provide an early warning sig-
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 06 61570564; fax: +39 06 61561906.
E-mail address: paola.lavalle@isprambiente.it (P. La Valle).
an environmental problem (Noss, 1990; Dufrene and Legendre,
1997; Niemi and McDonald, 2004; Howe et al., 2007). In order
to define biological indicators, however, it is first necessary to set
the most important criteria of indicator selection. Several Authors
(Noss, 1990; Hilty and Merenlender, 2000; Dale and Beyeler, 2001;
Carignan and Villard, 2002) suggested that a valuable indicator
may possess some or all of the following characteristics: it should

1470-160X/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.03.005
 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436
Fig. 1. Study area and sampling sites.
be easy to find and measure and sensitive to stresses on the sys-
tem, it should be anticipatory, integrative, it should respond to
stress in a predictable manner, predict changes that can be averted
through management actions, have a known response over time
to disturbances, anthropogenic stresses and changes, and have low
variability in response.
In this context, we tested the species Donax trunculus (Linnaeus,
1758) as a potential biological indicator of grain-size variations in
beach sediment. This species is an important constituent of the
infra-littoral benthic fauna inhabiting the Mediterranean sandy
beaches, a complex and delicate habitat (Ansell, 1983; McLachlan,
1990; Pavesi et al., 2007) that is sensitive to any variation in its
abiotic factors.
The bivalve D. trunculus is an Atlantic–Mediterranean warm-
temperate species whose presence has been recorded in the
Mediterranean Sea, in the Black Sea, and from Senegal to the north-
ern Atlantic coast of France (Ramon et al., 1995; Deval, 2009). This
filter-feeding species is preferentially distributed between 0 and
2 m of depth in the Mediterranean Sea and between 0 and 6 m
of depth on the Atlantic coasts (Massé, 1971; Amouroux, 1974;
Salas-Casanova, 1987; Costa et al., 1987; Neuberger-Cywiak et al.,
1990; Mariani et al., 1998; Manca Zeichen et al., 2002; Gaspar et al.,
2002; La Valle, 2006). D. trunculus, like many Donacidae, is a rapid
and efficient burrower; the shape of its shell is designed to allow
easy penetration into the sediment (Ramon et al., 1995; Marcomini
et al., 2002). As reported by Picard (1965), D. trunculus is an exclu-
sive species of the Superficial Fine Sand (SFS) biocoenosis because,
being strictly dependent on the sediment’s nature and composi-
tion, it only occurred in that specific biocoenosis. Also, D. trunculus
is considered to be a substrate-sensitive organism because of its
sensitivity to sediment grain size variations during its life cycle, in
particular during its early growth stages (Alexander et al., 1993; de
La Huz et al., 2002).
This paper aims at investigating the relationship between
D. trunculus’ distribution (in terms of densities) and sediment
grain sizes, in order to use this species as a biological indica-
1427
tor of beach grain-size variations. For this purpose, a specific
environmental study was performed by ISPRA on six beaches
located along the Latium coasts in the Central Tyrrhenian
Sea.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Study site
In order to test the validity of the surf clam D. trunculus as a bio-
logical indicator, six sampling sites were selected along the Latium
coasts (Italy) in the Central Tyrrhenian Sea: Ladispoli (LA), Fre-
gene (FR), Focene (FO), Ostia (OS), Torvaianica (TO) and Anzio (AN)
(Fig. 1).
Overall, this coastline – which stretches for approximately
60 km – is characterized by beaches presenting different condi-
tions of sedimentological equilibrium. Large portions of this coast
have previously been involved in a large number of different (and
differently-effective) defense works aimed at reducing erosion,
such as beach nourishment operations or the placement of struc-
tures like breakwaters and groins. These works have modified the
natural coastal landscape, sometimes very intensely. Erosion is
particularly strong in Ladispoli (Rome) and in the coastal stretch
comprised between Focene and Ostia (Rome), the latter’s erosion
being mainly due to a drastic reduction in the Tiber River’s solid
load (www.beachmed.eu).
Four sampling sites (LA, FO, OS and AN) are constituted by
beaches subjected to an intensive erosion process. Beach nour-
ishment activities were performed from February to April 2003
on these sites. The nourishment operations involved about 1.8
million cubic meters of relict sands dredged from a borrow site
(1500 m × 400 m) located approximately beyond 3 nautical miles
offshore Anzio (Rome) in the Tyrrhenian Sea at depths between
45 and 50 m. The dredged sediments used for the nourishment
operations had an average grain size of 2.4 phi. The two remain-
ing localities (FR and TO) were instead used as control sites as they
1428 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436
were not subject to erosion, and therefore represented the natural
condition.
2.2. Methodology
Samples of D. trunculus were collected at monthly intervals
between June 2002 and March 2004 (22 months). At each site,
the samplings were carried out in the infra-littoral zone at 0 m,
0.5 m and 1 m of water depth using a special hand dredge named
“rake”, similar to the ones commonly used by the local fisher-
men. This hand dredge is a heavy, semicircular iron structure,
with a 50-cm wide opening, a net bag and a toothed lower bar
at the mouth. In order to collect the smallest size individuals and
juveniles, a 2-mm mesh size net bag was used. At each sam-
pling site and depth (one tow per depth), the dredge was towed
parallel to the shoreline for a standard length of 50 m (sampled
area: 0.5 * 50 = 25 m2 ) (Mariani et al., 1998; Manca Zeichen et al.,
2002).
All individuals collected were transferred to the laboratory
for further investigations. At each sampling site and depth, D.
trunculus density was estimated in terms of number of individ-
uals per square meter (ind m−2 ) and the mean of the density
at the 3 depths and the standard error (SE) of the total organ-
ism density were also calculated. Moreover, for each sample,
shell lengths (maximum distance along the anterior-posterior axis)
were measured to the nearest 0.01 mm with a digital vernier
calliper.
At the same sampling site and depth, surface sediment (0–3 cm)
samples were collected through manual sampling in order to deter-
mine grain size distribution. Once in the laboratory, the collected
sediments were passed through a series of standard sieves at 1/2 phi
unit intervals (phi is defined as the negative logarithm of the grain
size in mm to the base 2) according to the Udden-Wentworth grain-
size classification scale.
Standard statistical parameters such as mean grain size, sort-
ing, kurtosis, and skewness were also calculated using the graphic
method of Folk and Ward (1957). Scatter diagrams graphing the
relationship between two variables (average values of mean grain
size and sorting) were created. This is because mean grain size and
sorting are fundamental parameters to describe sediment proper-
ties and to obtain information on the dynamics of beach sediment
(Pranzini, 2004).
2.3. Data analysis
The potential relationships between D. trunculus’ distributions
and environmental parameters were explored using multivari-
ate techniques. Multivariate methods are important tools in
community ecology because they can assess the relationships
between species data and environmental factors. A data matrix
was created around the following variables: species density
(ind m−2 ), sediment grain size class (in phi), sampling month, and
depth (0, 0.5, or 1 m).
All data were subjected to Canonical Discriminant Analysis
(CDA). CDA represents a linear transformation of the response
variables into a canonical space in which (a) each successive canon-
ical variate produces maximal separation among the groups and
(b) all canonical variates are mutually uncorrelated. The main
objective of CDA is to extract a set of linear combinations of the
quantitative variables that best reveal the differences among the
groups, identifying which variables most significantly contribute
to the discrimination of the groups into which the matrix is subdi-
vided. In particular, CDA was performed after applying a Principal
Component Analysis (PCA) in order to avoid possible distortions
when estimating coefficients (Mahalanobis, 1936; Tomassone et al.,
1988; Thioulouse et al., 1997). The statistical significance of this
analysis was assessed using a Monte Carlo permutation test (test of
the sum of a discriminant analysis eigenvalues divided by the rank)
(Manly, 1992; Good, 1994).
Moreover, to graphically represent and test the statistical cor-
relations between D. trunculus densities and sediment grain size
classes, a Focused Principal Components Analysis (Focused PCA)
was performed (Falissard, 1999). This analysis is a special type of
PCA, designed to describe and understand the relationship between
a set of quantitative variables with particular attention to the
dependencies of one variable – in this case D. trunculus density
– with the others – in this case grain size classes. The relation-
ships between non-dependent variables must be interpreted like
in a PCA: correlated variables are close or diametrically opposite
(for negative correlations), while independent variables make a
right angle with the origin. Variables inside the dotted circle are
significantly correlated to the dependent variable with p < 0.05.
Variables in black are positively correlated to the dependent vari-
able, while variables in grey are negatively correlated (Falissard,
1999).
All statistical analyses were performed using the “R” software
(The R project for Statistical Computing), ADE 4 (Thioulouse et al.,
1997) and PSY Packages (Falissard, 2009).
3. Results
A total of 6327 individuals of D. trunculus were collected and
analyzed over the whole study period. The distribution of the
species’ densities (ind m−2 ) and the mean densities at the three
depths (±standard error, SE) recorded in each sampling site over
the study period are reported in Table 1.
The species was more abundant at control sites FR (highest mean
density 7.88 ± 5.70 SE) and TO (highest mean density 1.56 ± 0.90
SE); high densities were also recorded in FO (highest mean density
11.92 ± 5.23 SE). In the other sampling sites, only a few specimens
were found during the study period; in particular, the lowest densi-
ties were registered in OS beach (highest mean density 0.25 ± 0.14
SE). The comparison of the distributions of D. trunculus’ total den-
sity during the study period for each sampling site confirms the
results described above: the highest density values were found at
sites FR, TO, and FO (Fig. 2a).
Although D. trunculus’ density values generally showed remark-
able fluctuations over time, in all sampling sites the highest
densities were mainly recorded in the summer (July–September)
(Fig. 2b). Very low density values were only observed during the
winter, a period that is generally characterized by heavy sea storm
episodes. Furthermore, the highest values of D. trunculus density
were mainly registered at 0.5 m, while very low densities were
found at a depth of 0 m (Fig. 2c).
Results of the granulometric analysis are synthesized in the scat-
ter diagrams comparing mean grain size (Mz) and sorting () over
time in every sampling site (Fig. 3). Generally, the sediment shows
a typical progressive decrease in grain size as both water depth and
distance from shore increase (Ricci Lucchi, 1980; Pranzini, 2004).
At FR and TO (control sites) the surface sediments showed a uni-
form distribution, with average mean grain sizes ranging between
1.6 and 2.1 phi (from medium to fine sand), while sorting val-
ues ranged between well-sorted and moderately well-sorted, with
slight temporal fluctuations. In these control sites, grain size char-
acteristics (in terms of grain size and sorting) remained constant
during the study period (Fig. 3). Along the remaining four sampling
sites, the beach nourishment operations involved the dumping of
sandy sediments that, compared to the native ones, were finer
(average Mz of 2.4 phi) and better-sorted. At FO, a considerable
change in sediment mean grain size and sorting after nourishment
is evident. The native sediments, which were essentially charac-
Table 1
Donax trunculus densities (ind m−2 ) for each sampling site over the study period. Mean densities of the 3 depths and standard errors (SE) are reported (b.n. = beach nourishment; n.s. = not sampled).

Sites/months Jun 02 Jul 02 Aug 02 Sep 02 Oct 02 Nov 02 Dec 02 Jan 03 Feb 03 Mar 03 Apr 03 May 03 Jun 03 Jul 03 Aug 03 Sep 03 Oct 03 Nov 03 Dec 03 Jan 04 Feb 04 Mar 04

LA 0m 2.87 0.36 0.05 0.14 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.25 0.15 0.55 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00
LA 0.5m 1.56 0.70 0.35 0.00 1.60 0.48 1.52 5.24 1.08 4.44 0.08 0,04 0.00 0.20 0.20 0.80 0.16 0.28 0.00 0.04 0.08 0.44
LA 1m 0.32 0.32 0.00 0.10 2.00 0.12 1.60 0.76 2.88 1.12 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.36 0.24 0.24 0.04 0.36 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00
Mean 1.58 0.46 0.13 0.08 1.22 0.20 1.04 2.01 1.32 1.87 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.27 0.20 0.53 0.07 0.21 0.00 0.01 0.05 0.15

P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436

Standard error 0.74 0.12 0.11 0.04 0.60 0.14 0.52 1.63 0.84 1.32 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.005 0.03 0.16 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.15

FR 0m 5.09 2.30 0.67 1.09 0.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 1.71 0.58 1.67 1.66 1.53 0.04 0.36 0.18 0.00 0.15 0.00
FR 0.5m 1.36 0.60 0.59 1.32 2.72 0.20 2.08 6.56 3.48 2.40 18.96 2.72 0.64 6.12 4.76 3.92 2.16 0.80 3.32 0.40 0.28 0.12
FR 1m 0.84 1.17 0.52 0.40 0.12 0.08 2.92 3.04 3.04 1.64 4.64 0.08 0.68 2.52 1.92 2.68 3.48 2.04 2.36 0.52 0.44 0.08
Mean 2.43 1.36 0.59 0.94 1.15 0.09 1.67 3.20 2.17 1.35 7.88 1.77 0.63 3.44 2.78 2.71 1.89 1.07 1.95 0.31 0.29 0.07
Standard error 1.34 0.50 0.04 0.28 0.80 0.06 0.87 1.90 1.09 0.71 5.70 0.53 0.03 1.36 0.99 0.69 1.00 0.50 0.93 0.16 0.09 0.04

FO 0m 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 b.n. 0.07 0.00 0.07 1.31 1.75 0.00 0.07 0.18 0.00 0.00 0.00
FO 0.5m 0.40 0.98 9.63 7.20 1.13 1.56 0.00 n.s. 0.00 0.00 b.n. 0.20 0.00 3.28 14.52 14.88 1.08 0.08 0.56 0.20 3.48 0.52
FO lm 0.72 1.13 4.32 3.32 0.14 0.80 0.44 0.00 0.00 0.00 b.n. 0.00 0.04 1.44 14.12 19.12 0.40 0.92 0.80 2.24 3.28 0.20
Mean 0.37 0.70 4.65 3.51 0.42 0.79 0.165 0.00 0.00 0.00 b.n. 0.09 0.01 1.60 9.98 11.92 0.49 0.36 0.51 0.81 2.25 0.24
Standard error 0.21 0.35 2.78 2.08 0.36 0.45 0.15 0.00 0.00 0.00 b.n. 0.06 0.01 0.93 4.34 5.23 0.32 0.28 0.18 0.72 1.13 0.15

OS 0m 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.40 0.00 0.04
OS 0.5m 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 n.s. 0.00 n.s. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.48 0.00 0.44 0.12 0.24
OS lm 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 n.s. 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.04 0.00 0.28 0.00 0.16 0.04 0.00
Mean 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.33 0.05 0.09
Standard error 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.02 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.09 0.04 0.07

TO 0m 1.78 0.32 0.25 0.00 0.13 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.00 0.00 0.36 0.21 0.00 0.14 1.22 1.67 3.35 0.07 0.33 1.71 0.91 1.05
TO 0.5m 0.64 0.10 0.04 0.08 0.24 0.80 1.72 1.12 2.44 0.68 2.40 0.00 0.04 0.72 4.12 4.88 0.64 1.48 0.04 3.44 0.36 0.92
TO lm 0.04 0.10 0.00 0.28 0.08 1.04 0.64 1.20 1.24 2.08 5.12 0.20 0.16 0.56 1.80 4.28 0.68 1.16 0.08 2.00 0.44 0.16
Mean 0.82 0.17 0.10 0.12 0.15 0.61 0.79 0.82 1.23 0.92 2.63 0.14 0.07 0.47 2.38 3.61 1.56 0.90 0.15 2.38 0.57 0.71
Standard error 0.51 0.07 0.08 0.08 0.05 0.31 0.50 0.34 0.70 0.61 1.38 0.07 0.05 0.17 0.89 0.98 0.90 0.43 0.09 0.54 0.17 0.28

AN 0m 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 b.n. 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
AN 0.5m 0.28 0.28 0.15 0.04 0.00 0.33 0.92 0.76 0.00 0.20 b.n. 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.04 0.72 0.12 0.04 0.16 0.60 0.00 0.12
AN lm 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.36 0.00 0.15 2.88 0.20 0.16 0.20 b.n. 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.28 0.20 0.32 0.36 0.44 0.20 0.36
Mean 0.09 0.12 0.07 0.13 0.00 0.16 1.27 0.32 0.05 0.13 b.n. 0.03 0.00 0.03 0.05 0.33 0.11 0.12 0.17 0.35 0.07 0.16
Standard error 0.09 0.08 0.04 0.11 0.00 0.10 0.85 0.23 0.05 0.07 b.n. 0.03 0.00 0.01 0.04 0.21 0.06 0.10 0.10 0.18 0.07 0.11

1429
1430 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436
Fig. 2. Box-plots showing the distribution of Donax trunculus total density (ind m−2 ) in relation to: (a) sampling sites, (b) sampling period (months), and (c) depths (0, 0.5,
and 1 m). Medians (black horizontal lines) and outliers (dots) are indicated.
terized by medium sands (Mz ranging between 1.2 and 1.8 phi),
were replaced by finer and better-sorted nourished sediments.
Grain size characteristics of the nourished sediments remained sta-
ble – in terms of mean grain size and sorting – in the following
sampling months as indicated by the homogeneity of the samples
collected after beach nourishment (Fig. 3). On the other hand, the
beaches of LA, OS, and AN were characterized by heterogeneous
poor-sorted sediments even shortly after nourishment. Wide tem-
poral fluctuation in terms of mean size and sorting are evident
(Fig. 3).
Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA) indicated the variables
that most contribute to the discrimination among sampling sites
(Fig. 4). The first two discriminant axes represented 75.4% (eigen-
values: axis 1 = 46.41%, axis 2 = 28.99%) of the total variance (Fig. 4a).
The first axis (representing the x-axis of the discriminant plane)
separated samples according to the D. trunculus density, decreasing
from left (FO, TO, and FO) to right (OS, LA, and AN). The second axis
(representing the y-axis of the discriminant plane) discriminated
sites according to the different granulometric fractions (Fig. 4b).
CDA separated the sampling sites into different groups (Fig. 4c):
this subdivision can be explained through the different correlations
obtained between the discriminant variables and the discriminant
axes (Fig. 4b). The TO and FR control sites are arranged along the
negative semi-axis of the first discriminant function (quadrant III).
In this quadrant, in the correlation circle, D. trunculus density and
2.00-phi grain size class are strongly positively correlated (Fig. 4c).
In accordance with these results, the highest percentage (more than
30%) of this class was observed in the control sites (Fig. 5). The sec-
ond group is represented by sites OS and LA that are arranged along
the positive semi-axis of the first discriminant function (Fig. 4b).
These sites are discriminated by the presence of sediments char-
acterized above all by the presence of smaller grain sizes (from
3.00 phi to 4.00 phi; Fig. 4c). The FO site is instead placed in an
intermediate position, closer to the control sites. Finally AN, which
segregates on the top of the graph reported in Fig. 4c, is correlated
to the presence of the larger grain sizes (coarse sand), above all
 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436 1431

LADISPOLI FOCENE
1,2 1,2
Nov02
1,0 Feb03 1,0 Mar03
Jul02
Mar03
0,8 0,8 Jan03
Jan03 Dec02
Sep02 Jun02
Oct02 Feb03
Feb04Jan04 Oct02 Aug02
σ

σ
0,6 Dec02 0,6 Nov02
Dec03 Nov03
May03 Mar04 Jul02
Jun02 Nov03 Sep02 May03Oct03
0,4 Oct03 0,4 Jan04
Apr03 Jul03
Dec03
Jun03Jul03 Jun03
Feb04
0,2 0,2

0,0 0,0
0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0
Mz (phi) Mz (phi)

OSTIA ANZIO
1,2 1,2
Jul02
Jan03 Jul03
Aug02
1,0 1,0 Feb03
Jun02 Mar04 Feb04
Sep02
0,8 Jul03 0,8 Sep03
Dec03
Mar03
Nov02 Feb03 Oct03
Jun02 Aug03
0,6 Sep02 Oct02 0,6 Oct02 Aug02 Nov03
σ

σ
Mar04 Sep03 Nov02 Dec03
Jan03May03 Oct03 Jan04
Feb04
Jan04 Dec02 Jun03 May03
Apr03 Nov03
0,4 Mar03 0,4 Jul02
Aug03
Jun03
0,2 0,2

0,0 0,0
0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0

Mz (phi) Mz (phi)

FREGENE 1,2
TORVAIANICA
1,2

1,0 1,0

0,8 0,8
Sep02
0,6 Aug03 0,6
Mar03
σ

Jul03 Sep03Feb04 Aug03Oct02 Feb04

Dec03
Dec02 Jan03 Nov02 Aug02
0,4 0,4 Oct03
Nov03 Sep03 Jan03
Apr03May03 Dec02 Jun03
Jan04
0,2 0,2

0,0 0,0
0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0 0,0 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,5 3,0
Mz (phi) Mz (phi)

Fig. 3. Scatter diagrams of grain size parameters (average values): mean grain size (Mz) versus sorting () for each sampling site over the study period. Native sediment
samples (grey squares) and samples collected after beach nourishment (black triangles) are indicated.

the 0.50-phi and 1.00-phi grain size classes (Fig. 4b). The statisti-
cal significance of CDA analysis was evaluated with a Monte Carlo
permutation test (rv = 0.074, p < 0.001).
CDA strongly discriminated the three sampled depths with
respect to the independent variables analyzed (Fig. 6). The first
two canonical functions accounted for 100% (eigenvalues: axis
1 = 85.53%, axis 2 = 14.47%) of the variation in the discriminat-
ing variables (Fig. 6a). A clear separation of the three sampled
depths is reported in Fig. 6c; this separation is explained by the
different correlations obtained between the discriminant vari-
ables and the discriminant axes (Fig. 6b). In particular the 0.5 m
depth is discriminated by the variable D. trunculus density, and
the latter is positively correlated with the 2.00-phi grain size class
(Fig. 6b). Significant positive correlations were also found between
the depth of 0 m and the larger grain size classes (<0.00 phi)
and between the depth of 1 m and the smaller grain size classes
(from 3.00 phi to 4.00 phi) (Fig. 6b). The statistical significance
of CDA was confirmed through a Monte Carlo permutation test
(rv = 0.03, p < 0.001).
In order to confirm the results described above and to ana-
lyze the strong relationship between D. trunculus density and
sediment grain size, a Focused PCA was performed. This analy-
sis allows for a circular representation of the correlations. The
variables inside the dotted circle are significantly correlated with
the dependent variable at the 5% level; black and grey dots
correspond, respectively, to variables positively and negatively cor-
related with the focus variable (Falissard, 1999). The Focused PCA
(Fig. 7) pointed out positive correlations (p < 0.05) between D. trun-
culus density and the 2.00-phi and 2.50-phi grain size classes,
and negative correlations (p < 0.05) with the grain size classes
1432 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436

Fig. 4. Canonical Discriminant Analysis on PCA factors related to the sampling sites. This is a composed plot made of: (a) the projection of the rows with ellipses and gravity
center of classes (sampling sites) (main graph); (b) the gravity centers of classes (sampling sites); (c) the correlation circle (ray = 1): the direction and length of arrows show
the quality of the correlation between variables and between variables and discriminant functions. The scale of the graphs (a and b) is given by a grid, which size is showed
on the top right (d = length of the side of grid squares).

corresponding to coarse sandy sediments (1.00 phi, 0.50 phi, and
0.00 phi).
4. Discussion and conclusions
The littoral species D. trunculus was found on the studied
beaches at depths between 0 and 1 m. This bathymetric distribu-
tion is in accordance with the observations reported by several
Authors for the Mediterranean coasts (Costa et al., 1987; Salas-
Casanova, 1987; Neuberger-Cywiak et al., 1990; Ramon Herrero,
1993; Mariani et al., 1998; Manca Zeichen et al., 2002; La Valle
et al., 2007).
D. trunculus commonly occurs in sandy beaches constituted
by well-sorted sediments ranging from medium to fine sand
(Bayed and Guillou, 1985; Guillou and Bayed, 1991; Dhaoui-
Ben et al., 2003). Sediment grain size is one of the most
important factors influencing D. trunculus abundance and distri-
bution, as this species is considered to be a substrate-sensitive
organism (Bally, 1983; Alexander et al., 1993; de La Huz
et al., 2002; Nel et al., 2001; La Valle, 2006; La Valle et al.,
2007).
Results of the present study show a significant positive correla-
tion between D. trunculus density and the 2.00-phi and the 2.50-phi
grain size classes, and a negative correlation with coarse sandy sed-
 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436
Fig. 5. Box-plot showing the distribution of the 2.00-phi grain size class in relation
to the sampling sites. Medians (black horizontal lines) are indicated.
iment (0.00 < phi < 1.00) (see Fig. 7). In particular, the predominance
of the 2.00-phi grain size class in the beach sediment seems to pos-
itively influence the species’ density and distribution. These results
allow us to restrict the optimal granulometric range for species
settlement and growth and to confirm the observations made in
other studies (Bayed and Guillou, 1985; Guillou and Le Moal, 1980;
Guillou and Bayed, 1991; Ramon Herrero, 1993) in relation to the
negative influence of the coarser granulometries on species distri-
bution. In accordance with what we mentioned above, the highest
densities of D. trunculus were found at the FR and TO control sites,
characterized by the presence of well-sorted sediments with an
average mean grain size in the medium-fine sand range. This is
because the presence of sediments with granulometric character-
istics suitable for this species’ settlement and subsequent growth
allowed the occurrence of stable populations on these beaches (La
Valle, 2006).
Regarding species density distribution in relation to depth, in
the studied beaches D. trunculus was more abundant at the depths
of 0.5 and 1 m. The occurrence of a few individuals of smaller
size (hence younger) at 0 m is generally related to the presence
of coarser sediments on the shoreline (La Valle, 2006). D. truncu-
lus shows an age-size gradient with depth; the smaller individuals
(juveniles) are commonly located in shallower depths, while the
largest individuals (adults) occur at greater depths, all the way
down to the species’ bathymetric limit (Ansell and Lagardère, 1980;
Guillou and Bayed, 1991; Le Moal, 1993; Gaspar et al., 2002; Deval,
2009).
In all sampling sites, D. trunculus density values showed remark-
able fluctuations over time. The peaks in density were mainly
recorded during the summer months (from July to September):
these seasonal fluctuations are linked to the species’ reproduc-
tive cycle. As confirmed by the literature (Neuberger-Cywiak
et al., 1990; Le Moal, 1993; Gaspar et al., 1999, 2002; La Valle,
2006), higher densities coincide with the larval recruitment
period.
Concerning the sediment’s grain size variations due to beach
nourishment activities, this study’s results underline that, despite
that the suitability of sandy sediments dumped on the beach (well-
sorted sediments with an average Mz of 2.4 phi), D. trunculus
showed a different trend in density depending on the sampling
sites. At the FO site, as also confirmed by granulometric data, the
1433
nourished sediment’s mean grain size and sorting values did not
change for the whole post-nourishment period (see Fig. 3). It is
likely that this is due to the presence of the groin that was placed
on the nourished beach as an additional defense, which favoured a
reduced mobility of the sediment. A significant increase in species
density was observed about four months after nourishment; D.
trunculus specimens certainly found an optimal substratum on
which they could settle and grow in the upcoming autumn months,
maintaining a stable population on the beach (La Valle, 2006). It is
known that the larval fixation of this species occurs at shallower
depths, far away from the deeper bathymetrics occupied by larger
individuals. Subsequently, during growth, the juveniles and smaller
individuals move downwards and allow space for a further larval
fixation (Gaspar et al., 2002).
The other nourished sampling sites showed more complex and
delicate situations after nourishments. At both OS and AN, wide
grain size variations in terms of mean grain size and sorting were
observed after nourishment (see Fig. 3). At OS these variations can
probably be ascribed to the presence of heterogeneous materials
(such as river gravel, for example) coming from different coastal
defense works carried out along this coast in the last 15 years, and
which wave motion continuously moves and reworks. At the AN
site, a coastal stretch that is particularly exposed to wave motion
and unprotected by artificial structures, the nourished sediment
quickly moved downwards, to greater depths. Despite the fact that
after nourishment the species appeared with very low density val-
ues, in both sites (OS and AN) grain-size changes probably hindered
the larvae’s settlement in the substrate. On the other hand, in site
LA, despite the sediment’s post-nourishment stability in terms of
sorting and mean grain size, the numerous sea storms that took
place in the summer-fall period probably swept away the species’
planctonic larvae, not allowing their settlement on the substrate
(La Valle, 2006).
This study suggests that sediment grain size is the chief factor
controlling the distribution of D. trunculus populations; suitable
grain sizes allow the settlement and the subsequent growth of
well-structured populations. Generally, species density declined
during D. trunculus’ life cycle (especially during early growth
stages, such as settlement and recruitment) in areas subjected
to grain-size variations in beach sediments, suggesting a pre-
dictable biological response to both natural and human-caused
stressors.
Considering the complexity of the beach ecosystem and the
need to develop alternative methods to monitor environmen-
tal changes (whose direct measurement would be too costly or
difficult), the importance of indicator species (in terms of den-
sity and presence or absence) is evident, and their aim is to
obtain “proxy measures” of the ecosystem condition (Hilty and
Merenlender, 2000). The tested bivalve species has satisfied many
of the criteria proposed for selecting indicators (Landres et al.,
1988; Noss, 1990; Simberloff, 1998; Hilty and Merenlender, 2000;
Dale and Beyeler, 2001): D. trunculus has a clear taxonomy sta-
tus, a well-known biology and life history, a wide distribution,
limited mobility, is easy to find and measure, it has early warn-
ing abilities, and the ability to detect changes. Furthermore, D.
trunculus is considered a useful descriptor of the sandy beach envi-
ronment due to its substrate-sensitivity during life cycle (Alexander
et al., 1993; de La Huz et al., 2002) and habitat fidelity (Picard,
1965)—being strictly dependent on the sediment’s nature and com-
position.
The present study highlighted that where nourishment was
carried out with suitable sediments the species reappears on
the beach after a few months, as it finds an optimal substrate
for settlement. In this case, finding D. trunculus specimens a
few months after sand replenishment indicates that the nour-
ishment operations have been successful from an environmental
1434 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436

Fig. 6. Canonical Discriminant Analysis on PCA factors related to the depth. This is a composed plot made of: (a) the projection of the rows with ellipses and gravity center
of classes (depths) (main graph); (b) the gravity centers of classes (depths); (c) the correlation circle (ray = 1): the direction and length of arrows show the quality of the
correlation between variables and between variables and discriminant functions. The scale of the graphs (a and b) is given by a grid, which size is showed on the top right
(d = length of the side of grid squares).

point of view. As reported by Carignan and Villard (2002), a
species that is strongly associated with particular habitat fea-
tures could be a useful indicator; in particular, a species – like
D. trunculus – that is negatively associated with human distur-
bances could be considered a “positive” indicator of ecological
integrity.
Long-term monitoring of D. trunculus abundance or density
on sandy beaches (adequately carried out during the species’
recruitment period, e.g. between July to September), could help
pinpoint the presence of natural or human-made phenom-
ena that are leading to grain-size variations in the sediment.
In conclusion, we can assume that D. trunculus can be used
as a practical biological indicator to detect grain size varia-
tions on sandy beaches in coastal monitoring programmes; it
could be a useful tool for researchers, managers and admin-
istrators to assess erosion phenomena while minimizing times
and costs, also in view of an integrated coastal zone manage-
ment.
 P. La Valle et al. / Ecological Indicators 11 (2011) 1426–1436
Fig. 7. Plot of Focused PCA: variables inside the dotted circle are significantly cor-
related to the dependent variable with p < 0.05. Black dots correspond to variables
(2.00 phi and 2.50 phi) positively correlated with the focus variable (Donax trunculus
density), grey dots correspond to negative correlations (see the variables 0.00 phi,
0.50 phi, 1.00 phi). The relationships between non dependent variables are inter-
preted like in a PCA: correlated variables are close or diametrically opposite (for
negative correlations), independent variables make a right angle with the origin.
Acknowledgement
The research presented was supported by the Regione
Lazio local authority within the Project: “Studio di impatto
ambientale connesso allo sfruttamento di depositi sabbiosi som-
mersi ai fini di ripascimento lungo la piattaforma continentale
laziale”.
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