Distribution and ecological conditions ofPosidonia oceanica(L.) Delile meadows in La Maddalena National Park (Sardinia)

The La Maddalena Archipelago became National Park in 1996 and together with the southern part of Corsica it forms the Bocche di Bonifacio International Park.Posidonia oceanicabeds widely distributed in the area play an important role in dividing La Maddalena National Park (MNP) into zones with different level of protection in order to manage and coordinate the human activities inside the park. The regression ofP. oceanicameadows has become generalised around much of the Archipelago coastline. The most common anthropogenic factors in the decline ofP. oceanicahabitats in near-shore coastal areas are eutrophication and boat anchoring.