RECENT DATA FROM THE MONITORING OF POSIDONIA OCEANICA IN TWO MARINE PROTECTED AREAS OF THE APULIAN COASTS (CENTRAL-EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA) DATI RECENTI SUL MONITORAGGIO DI POSIDONIA OCEANICA IN DUE AREE MARINE PROTETTE DELLE COSTE PUGLIESI (MEDITERRANEO CENTRO-ORIENTALE)

This paper reports recent bio-ecological data on the Posidonia oceanica meadows located in two Marine Protected Areas of the Apulia region, Tremiti Islands and Porto Cesareo, placed in the Southern Adriatic Sea and North-Eastern Ionian Sea, respectively. The main features of the meadows (morpho- ecology, phenology, lepidochronology) were estimated. Moreover, in situ (-15 depth) continuous recording of light intensity (Lux) and water temperature (°C) was carried out during the period Oct. 2008-Sept. 2009.