Article

The paleoendemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile represents a key species of the most important and productive ecosystem in subtidal habitats of the Mediterranean Sea. This species is the most common seagrass in Sicily where it forms dense and extensive beds, which are characterized by high coverage and primary production values. The beaching of P. oceanica detritus (banquette) can be an environmental, economic and social problem, if it comes into conflict with a number of activities (tourism, bathing establishments, etc.). Even though seagrasses play a fundamental ecological role in limiting coastal erosion and promoting the origin of the coastal dunes, the presence of P. oceanica detritus along the coasts can negatively decrease the tourism value of beaches. As a result, according to national and regional laws and guidelines, local authorities are required to remove banquette and to accumulate it in landfills. In this survey, the ancient exploitation and current uses of P. oceanica detritus are reported according to literature data. Moreover P. oceanica detritus were used to replace soil in an experimental installation located at the University of Palermo. Meanwhile, continuous temperature values measurements by using hobo data logger sensors were carried out. The results confirm the thermal insulation role of this material and highlight potential applications in the field of Soil Bioengineering