Data are reported on shell length (mm), dry shell weight (g), dry flesh weight (g), and condition index in mussels farmed in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto from 2004 to 2020. From 2004 to 2012 data were collected in summer in one station in the First Inlet of the basin. In 2013, data were collected in spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet. In 2014, data were collected in spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet and in the near Mar Grande. In 2015, data were collected in winter and spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet. Starting from 2016, data were routinely collected in spring in the First Inlet and in summer in the Second Inlet. Each season, 75 randomly selected mussels were measured, sampled from three breeding “camera” (five for each camera), at three different distances from the coastline (i.e. land, middle, off shore) (five for each distance).

Four stations were investigated: two in the First Inlet named Galeso and Scaletta and two stations in the Second Inlet of Mar Piccolo Cimino and Battendieri. Samples were collected seasonally for one year (2012) with three replicate in each station. A total of 3987 specimens with a total biomass of 914.85 g, were determined. Benthic macroinvertebrate composition was characterised by Annelida, Crustacea Mollusca, Echinodermata, Tunicata, Bryozoa and Platelminta. Mollusca (60%) and Crustaceans 34.3% followed by Cnidaria (2.14%) dominated the communities while all other species, represent a negligible part.

The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean). The sampling was done on annual basis for three years (from 2002 to 2004), and the samples were taken using a Van Veen. A total of 258 species were identified. Benthic macroinvertebrate composition was dominated by the presence of Mollusca and Crustaceans that made up 63% of the species. Anellida represented 11.6% of species, followed by Echinodermata and Tunicata with 7.4 and 7.8% respectively and Porifera with 5.1% of the total species identified. Briozoa and Cnidaria accounted for about 3 and 2%. During the three years of study the benthic community remained almost constant

Floristic list of the seaweeds collected in the Mar Piccolo in the years between 1920 and 1959 by Irma Pierpaoli. Updating of the current species nomenclature was performed according to Algaebase (https://www.algaebase.org) and the original taxonomic binomial was reported

The fish assemblage of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Southern Italy), an important ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea, was assessed. A total of 6514 individuals were monthly collected, between July 2007 and April 2009 identifying 28 species within 16 families. Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Labridae and Gobidae were the dominant families. The Mugilidae were represented by 5 species, contributed for about 36% of the numerical abundance of the total catch, and mostly consisted of Liza aurata (25%) L. saliens (7.6%), L. ramada (1.2%), Mugil cephalus (1.2%) and Chelon labrosus (0.7%). Although Atherinidae was represented by Atherina boyeri, the contribution rate of this species was quite high (27.3%) of total catches with 1776 of total individuals. Labridae and Gobidae were the next dominant families accounting for 14.2% and 10.8% respectively. The results showed that the fish fauna found is similar to the ichthyofauna of other transitional ecosystems in the Mediterranean

The aim of this study was to determine the structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian Sea, Central Mediterranean). The sampling was done on annual basis for three years (from 2002 to 2004), and the samples were taken using a Van Veen. A total of 258 species were identified. Benthic macroinvertebrate composition was dominated by the presence of Mollusca and Crustaceans that made up 63% of the species. Anellida represented 11.6% of species, followed by Echinodermata and Tunicata with 7.4 and 7.8% respectively and Porifera with 5.1% of the total species identified. Briozoa and Cnidaria accounted for about 3 and 2%. During the three years of study the benthic community remained almost constant

Abundance data (cfu/g, cfu/ml) of E. coli, coliforms and Vibrio were assessed in water, sediments and mussels from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto in order to evaluate fecal pollution and the environmental status

The study of the plankton cyst bank from the Mar Piccolo of Taranto started in 1996 and is still ongoing. Different stations located in the two sub-basins basin are intermittently sampled, collecting surface sediments for cyst analysis The identification of more than 100 different morphotypes was performed over the years

Floristic list of seaweeds collected in 21 stations in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto in July 2001. In July 2001, sampling activities were carried out throughout the Mar Piccolo of Taranto, to evaluate the biodiversity in terms of phytobenthic species. Twenty-one stations were monitored, 11 in the First Inlet and 10 in the Second Inlet. A total of 45 taxa were recorded: 8 Chlorophyta, 5 Ochrophyta, 32 Rhodophyta. No Tracheophyta was recorded. 5 species were non-indigenous (NIS). Updating of the current species nomenclature was performed according to Algaebase (https://www.algaebase.org) and the original taxonomic binomial was reported

The fish assemblage of the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Southern Italy), an important ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea, was assessed. A total of 6514 individuals were monthly collected, between July 2007 and April 2009 identifying 28 species within 16 families. Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Labridae and Gobidae were the dominant families. The Mugilidae were represented by 5 species, contributed for about 36% of the numerical abundance of the total catch, and mostly consisted of Liza aurata (25%) L. saliens (7.6%), L. ramada (1.2%), Mugil cephalus (1.2%) and Chelon labrosus (0.7%). Although Atherinidae was represented by Atherina boyeri, the contribution rate of this species was quite high (27.3%) of total catches with 1776 of total individuals. Labridae and Gobidae were the next dominant families accounting for 14.2% and 10.8% respectively. The results showed that the fish fauna found is similar to the ichthyofauna of other transitional ecosystems in the Mediterranean