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Copetti D, Erba S. A bibliometric review on the Water Framework Directive twenty years after its birth. AMBIO 2024; 53:95-108. [PMID: 37684553 PMCID: PMC10692058 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01918-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) is one of the most studied environmental legislations and recently turned twenty. The paper deals with a literature search and analysis of 4120 references related to this Directive. After a period of strong increase in article production (2002-2012) WFD scientific productivity is currently still high (~ 260 papers year-1), suggesting a persistent interest of the scientific community on this issue. Most research supporting the WFD was on water sciences, but contributions were also from governance and socio-economic disciplines. Studies on biological quality elements and rivers were prominent. The WFD implementation has seen a strong participation of scientists from all EU countries, and partially also from outside-EU nations. To improve the EU water policy and management, the paper suggests a greater interconnection between WFD and other EU Directives and indicates some emerging environmental issues to which the Directive should address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Copetti
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR- IRSA), Via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, Monza-Brianza, Italy.
| | - Stefania Erba
- National Research Council of Italy - Water Research Institute (CNR- IRSA), Via del Mulino 19, 20861, Brugherio, Monza-Brianza, Italy
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2
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Wu HY, Fu SF, Hu WJ, Chen FG, Cai XQ, Chen QH, Wu YB. Response of different benthic biotic indices to eutrophication and sediment heavy metal pollution, in fujian coastal water, East China sea. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135653. [PMID: 35835246 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The types and intensity of anthropogenic pressure in the same sea area may differ spatially and may change as time passes, but response of benthic biotic indices to different pressure is different, which makes it unreasonable to use the same benthic biotic indices in a large sea area. We provided a new way of thinking as to selecting benthic biotic indices according to pressure type. The study took six bays under eutrophication and sediment heavy metal pollution to different levels in Fujian coastal water, East China sea, as examples, analysed the response of five benthic biotic indices, namely AZTI marine biotic index (AMBI), multivariate AMBI (M-AMBI), Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), benthic opportunistic polychaetes amphipods (BOPA) and benthic polychaetes amphipods (BPA), to eutrophication factors and sediment heavy metal pollution factors firstly. The result indicated that AMBI well responded to dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP); M-AMBI responded soundly in the range of DIN >0.131 mg L-1 and DIP >0.022 mg L-1 and responded universally to heavy metals; H' responded to only Hg and Cd; BOPA has response to eutrophication condition of DIN >0.242 mg L-1; BPA had response to DIN, Cu and As. Then, suitable indices were selected based on the four pressure scenarios in the study area. AMBI was selected in no pressure scenario; M-AMBI was chosen under only eutrophication pressure and under dual pressure; H' was preferred in only heavy metal pressure scenario (mainly Hg pollution). At last, the density plot of the distribution of the selected indices in the evaluation grades under different pressure scenarios proved the proposal of selecting benthic biotic indices according to pressure types feasible. This study can offer some new insights into rapidly choosing indices to evaluate the coastal benthic ecological quality status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yan Wu
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Shi-Feng Fu
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
| | - Wen-Jia Hu
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Feng-Gui Chen
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Xiao-Qiong Cai
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Qing-Hui Chen
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Yi-Biao Wu
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
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Equbal J, Lakra RK, Savurirajan M, Satyam K, Thiruchitrambalam G. Assessing the benthic quality status of three fine sand tropical beaches from the Andaman Islands through the application of marine biotic indices. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:479. [PMID: 35666327 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10132-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The rapid coastal development in the Andaman Islands has resulted in littoral habitat degradation. Understanding the performances of marine biotic indices and the interpretation and translation of those results into coastal health assessment could become an integral tool in future monitoring and management policies. In this line of efforts, the ecological quality status of three sandy beaches, two urban and one nonurban, was evaluated by using three marine biotic indices. The faunal community belonged to moderately well-sorted fine sand biocenosis. The relatively high species richness (15.9 ± 0.80 taxa sample-1) and moderate abundance (563 ± 38.8 ind.m-2) were features of the benthic fauna. The urban beaches (Aberdeen Bay and Carbyn's Cove) corresponded to tolerant benthic communities. Malacoceros indicus, Grandidierella megnae and Scolelepis squamata (tolerant species), and Ampelisca diadema (indifferent species) were the major constituents of urban beaches, while Scoloplos capensis, Urothoe grimaldii, and Urothoe platydactyla (sensitive species) were important at the nonurban beach (Wandoor). The high-good quality status prevailed across the spatial and temporal scales except for Carbyn's cove beach, where good-poor status was noticed. The M-AMBI appeared to be the most robust measure in distinguishing the impact between the urban and nonurban beaches. The constrained ordinations revealed a gradient of disturbance across the beaches. The distinct patterns of sample segregation were the result of the ecological response. This attempt should be considered a comprehensive measure of quality assessment of beaches under human pressure and draw a parallel line of evidence to global studies on sandy beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jawed Equbal
- Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, 744112, India
| | - Raj Kiran Lakra
- Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, 744112, India
| | - M Savurirajan
- Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, 744112, India
- National Centre for Coastal Research, NIOT Campus, Velacherry-Tambaram Main Road, Pallikaranai, Chennai - 600100, India
| | - Kunal Satyam
- Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, 744112, India
| | - Ganesh Thiruchitrambalam
- Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Brookshabad Campus, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, 744112, India.
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Suárez B, Barrios M, Teixeira de Mello F. Macroinvertebrates’ response to different land use in lowland streams from Uruguay: use of artificial substrates for biomonitoring. NEOTROPICAL BIODIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2022.2049178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Suárez
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Margenny Barrios
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay
| | - Franco Teixeira de Mello
- Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República, Maldonado, Uruguay
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Benthic Foraminiferal Indices and Environmental Quality Assessment of Transitional Waters: A Review of Current Challenges and Future Research Perspectives. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13141898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Transitional waters straddle the interface between marine and terrestrial biomes and, among others, include fjords, bays, lagoons, and estuaries. These coastal systems are essential for transport and manufacturing industries and suffer extensive anthropogenic exploitation of their ecosystem services for aquaculture and recreational activities. These activities can have negative effects on the local biota, necessitating investigation and regulation. As a result of this, EcoQS (ecological quality status) assessment has garnered great attention as an essential aspect of governmental bodies’ legislative decision-making process. Assessing EcoQS in transitional water ecosystems is problematic because these systems experience high natural variability and organic enrichment and often lack information about their pre-human impact, baseline, or “pristine” reference conditions, knowledge of which is essential to many commonly used assessment methods. Here, foraminifera can be used as environmental sentinels, providing ecological data such as diversity and sensitivity, which can be used as the basis for EcoQS assessment indices. Fossil shells of foraminifera can also provide a temporal aspect to ecosystem assessment, making it possible to obtain reference conditions from the study site itself. These foraminifera-based indices have been shown to correlate not only with various environmental stressors but also with the most common macrofaunal-based indices currently employed by bodies such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD). In this review, we firstly discuss the development of various foraminifera-based indices and address the challenge of how best to implement these synergistically to understand and regulate human environmental impact, particularly in transitional waters, which have historically suffered disproportionate levels of human impact or are difficult to assess with standard EcoQS methods. Further, we present some case studies to exemplify key issues and discuss potential solutions for those. Such key issues include, for example, the disparate performance of multiple indices applied to the same site and a proper assignment of EcoQS class boundaries (threshold values) for each index. Disparate aptitudes of indices to specific geomorphologic and hydrological regimes can be leveraged via the development of a site characteristics catalogue, which would enable the identification of the most appropriate index to apply, and the integration of multiple indices resulting in more representative EcoQS assessment in heterogenous transitional environments. In addition, the difficulty in assigning threshold values to systems without analogous unimpacted reference sites (a common issue among many transitional waters) can be overcome by recording EcoQS as an ecological quality ratio (EQR). Lastly, we evaluate the current status and future potential of an emerging field, genetic biomonitoring, focusing on how these new techniques can be used to increase the accuracy of EcoQS assessment in transitional systems by supplementing more established morphology-based methods.
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Conservation Paleobiology as a Tool to Define Reference Conditions in Naturally Stressed Transitional Settings: Micropaleontological Insights from the Holocene of the Po Coastal Plain (Italy). WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12123420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The key role of paralic environments as providers of ecosystem services, associated with their increasingly threatened state, led to the definition of international water management policies aimed to improve ecological quality status (EcoQs). Restoration actions rely on the definition of reference conditions, which is a particularly challenging task in naturally stressed transitional environments. In the present work, we apply the diversity index Exp(H’bc) on benthic foraminifer assemblages from two anthropogenically unimpacted transitional to coastal Holocene sediment successions of the Po coastal plain, in order to assess past EcoQs (PaleoEcoQs). Ostracod ecological groups provided detailed insights on naturally stressful paleoenvironmental conditions. We show that “poor” to “moderate” PaleoEcoQs are recorded by biological indicators at reference conditions under fluctuations of chemical-physical parameters and organic matter enrichment. We emphasize the importance of a site-specific paleobiological approach, as significant differences in diversity occur even on a short spatial scale. This study illustrates that early to mid-Holocene sediment successions resulted to be appropriate for conservation paleobiological purposes, providing a high-resolution paleoecological record under the influence of the Holocene sea-level rise in analogy with the present-day global change.
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Borja A, Chust G, Muxika I. Forever young: The successful story of a marine biotic index. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2019; 82:93-127. [PMID: 31229151 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In 2000, the AZTI's Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) was published and was one of a number of marine benthic indices development to assess the ecological status of soft-bottom macroinvertebrates. This index, and its derivatives, has been very successful in its application to different geographical areas, across the world, as well as to different environments, from the intertidal to the abyssal, or from tidal freshwater to offshore habitats. In this review, we explain the story behind the AMBI development, and look for an explanation of the index's success. For doing that, we comment on the current practicalities of the index, we present the new AMBI species list, with 9251 taxa, we dismantle six myths around this index, and examine the past and the future of the index. We show that the solid ecological roots of the index make it a robust tool to assess the status of marine benthic communities, at any time and environment. Hence, we think that it will be 'forever young' helping managers in taking informed decisions to improve benthic marine systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Borja
- AZTI, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain.
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Dias HQ, Sukumaran S, Srinivas T, Mulik J. Ecological quality status evaluation of a monsoonal tropical estuary using benthic indices: comparison via a seasonal approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:22672-22688. [PMID: 29851015 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-2344-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The use of biotic indices has garnered attention during the last decade due to its extensive application in evaluating ecological quality status (EcoQS) of marine waters and estuaries. Three seasonal surveys were conducted in the Kundalika estuary, India to evaluate the ecostatus using five benthic indices and comparing their effectiveness considering the estuarine salinity gradient and seasonality. All indices gave divergent results displaying a wide range of classes (good to bad) across salinity zones and seasons. Comparatively, M-AMBI discriminated the EcoQS suitably than other indices. Hence, a seasonally averaged approach for M-AMBI was proposed to obtain a final mean EcoQS which assigned moderate status to the euhaline and poly-mesohaline zones and poor status to the oligohaline zone. Considering the high degree of spatial heterogeneity and seasonality in the estuary, the monsoon data was found to lower the EcoQS due to natural stress in some cases; the exclusion of the monsoon season resulted in a more valid ecostatus. Therefore, this approach which combines information from the non-monsoon seasons stands out in providing a useful basis for ecological management by scrutinizing responses of macrobenthos. Also, we suggest salinity zone-wise evaluation for more effective classification chiefly in tropical monsoonal estuaries. An effort to establish a final EcoQS was performed; however, future in-depth studies are necessary to ascertain the reliability of the successful biotic index (M-AMBI) in estuaries with different stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidy Q Dias
- Regional Centre Andheri (W), CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Mumbai, 400053, India
| | - Soniya Sukumaran
- Regional Centre Andheri (W), CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Mumbai, 400053, India.
| | - Tatiparthi Srinivas
- Regional Centre Andheri (W), CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Mumbai, 400053, India
| | - Jyoti Mulik
- Regional Centre Andheri (W), CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Mumbai, 400053, India
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Pitacco V, Lipej L, Mavrič B, Mistri M, Munari C. Comparison of benthic indices for the evaluation of ecological status of three Slovenian transitional water bodies (northern Adriatic). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 129:813-821. [PMID: 29100635 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Benthic indicators are important tools for the classification of coastal and transitional water bodies. The aim of the work was to assess for the first time the Environmental Status (ES) of Slovenian transitional waters, comparing the following biotic indices: richness, Shannon-Weaver diversity, AMBI, M-AMBI, BENTIX and BITS indices. A total of 13 stations were sampled with a Van Veen grab, in three ecosystems in the northern Adriatic. Samples were sieved and sorted, invertebrates identified and counted. The anthropogenic impact was estimated with professional judgement. Richness and diversity showed a good response to anthropogenic pressure. Conversely, indices based on sensitivity/tolerance groups did not showed a clear distinction between more and less impacted ecosystems. In particular BENTIX underestimated the ES, while with BITS there was a overestimation. The best evaluation was obtained with M-AMBI, because even if based on a sensitivity/tolerance approach, it considered also the structural aspect of the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Pitacco
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lovrenc Lipej
- Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 61, 6630 Piran, Slovenia
| | - Borut Mavrič
- Marine Biology Station, National Institute of Biology, Fornače 61, 6630 Piran, Slovenia
| | - Michele Mistri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Cristina Munari
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 17, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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Romero-Ramirez A, Bonifácio P, Labrune C, Sardá R, Amouroux JM, Bellan G, Duchêne JC, Hermand R, Karakassis I, Dounas C, Grémare A. Long-term (1998-2010) large-scale comparison of the ecological quality status of gulf of lions (NW Mediterranean) benthic habitats. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 102:102-113. [PMID: 26675011 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive Mediterranean data set has been used to address 3 questions associated with the use of sensitivity/tolerance based biotic indices to infer the Ecological Quality status (EcoQs) of benthic habitats. Our results showed: (1) a significant effect of the reference database on derived sensitivity/tolerance measure (ES500.05) as well as associated Benthic Quality Index values and derived EcoQs; (2) a lack of correlation neither between BQI and AZTI Marine Biotic Index values nor between BQI and Multivariate-AZTI Marine Biotic Index values; (3) a lack of correlation between the values of the Benthic Habitat Quality Index (index derived from Sediment Profile Imagery) and those of either of the 3 tested biotic indices; and (4) a general agreement between the 3 tested biotic indices in describing the lack of global trend for the EcoQs of the Gulf of Lions despite the occurrence of significant changes in benthic macrofauna composition between 1998 and 2010.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paulo Bonifácio
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33120 Arcachon, France; Université Paris 6, CNRS, LECOB, UMR 8222, F-66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Céline Labrune
- Université Paris 6, CNRS, LECOB, UMR 8222, F-66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Rafael Sardá
- Centre d'Estudis Avançats de Blanes, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Carrer d'accés a la Cala Sant Francesc 14, F-17300 Blanes, Spain
| | | | - Gérard Bellan
- Université d'Aix-Marseille, OSU-Institut Pythéas IMBE Station marine d'Endoume, Chemin de la Batterie des Lions, F- 13007 Marseille, France
| | | | - Rachel Hermand
- Université d'Aix-Marseille, OSU-Institut Pythéas IMBE Station marine d'Endoume, Chemin de la Batterie des Lions, F- 13007 Marseille, France
| | - Ioannis Karakassis
- Marine Ecology Laboratory, University of Crete, Vasilika Vouton, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece
| | - Costas Dounas
- Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Athens Sounio, Anavyssos Attiki 19013, Greece
| | - Antoine Grémare
- Université Bordeaux, CNRS, EPOC, UMR 5805, F-33120 Arcachon, France
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Hutton M, Venturini N, García-Rodríguez F, Brugnoli E, Muniz P. Assessing the ecological quality status of a temperate urban estuary by means of benthic biotic indices. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2015; 91:441-453. [PMID: 25467169 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Benthic indices are commonly used tools for assessing the environmental quality, because they represent a simple source of scientific information. However, their performance could vary depending on the application area and perturbation types, thus they should be tested before used in other remote geographic regions. This study aims to test the use of some of the most widely common benthic biotic indices for assessing the environmental quality of Montevideo's coastal zone at a seasonal scale against many physicochemical variables. From all the evaluated indices, AMBI appears to be the most suitable one to assess the environmental quality. The study also allowed us to infer the most relevant physicochemical variables: protein, lipid and heavy metal sediment concentration. Additionally, site-specific threshold effect levels for heavy metals and biopolymers were established, which appear to be useful to determine tolerable levels of such stressors in future assessments or monitoring programs for the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hutton
- Oceanografía & Ecología Marina, IECA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay.
| | - N Venturini
- Laboratorio de Biogeoquímica Marina (LABIM), IECA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - F García-Rodríguez
- Oceanografía & Ecología Marina, IECA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - E Brugnoli
- Oceanografía & Ecología Marina, IECA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - P Muniz
- Oceanografía & Ecología Marina, IECA, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
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Fitch JE, Cooper KM, Crowe TP, Hall-Spencer JM, Phillips G. Response of multi-metric indices to anthropogenic pressures in distinct marine habitats: the need for recalibration to allow wider applicability. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 87:220-229. [PMID: 25127499 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.07.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Revised: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable exploitation of coastal ecosystems is facilitated by tools which allow reliable assessment of their response to anthropogenic pressures. The Infaunal Quality Index (IQI) and Multivariate-AMBI (M-AMBI) were developed to classify the ecological status (ES) of benthos for the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The indices respond reliably to the impacts of organic enrichment in muddy sand habitats, but their applicability across a range of pressures and habitats is less well understood. The ability of the indices to predict changes in response to pressures in three distinct habitats, intertidal muddy sand, maerl and inshore gravel, was tested using pre-existing datasets. Both responded following the same patterns of variation as previously reported. The IQI was more conservative when responding to environmental conditions so may have greater predictive value in dynamic habitats to provide an early-warning system to managers'. Re-calibration of reference conditions is necessary to reliably reflect ES in different habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne E Fitch
- Environment Agency, Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Peterborough PE2 5ZR, UK.
| | - Keith M Cooper
- The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK.
| | - Tasman P Crowe
- Earth Institute and School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Jason M Hall-Spencer
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.
| | - Graham Phillips
- Environment Agency, Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Peterborough PE2 5ZR, UK.
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Das RN, Roy K. Predictive modeling studies for the ecotoxicity of ionic liquids towards the green algae Scenedesmus vacuolatus. CHEMOSPHERE 2014; 104:170-176. [PMID: 24296027 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Hazardous potential of ionic liquids is becoming an issue of high concern with increasing application of these compounds in various industrial processes. Predictive toxicological modeling on ionic liquids provides a rational assessment strategy and aids in developing suitable guidance for designing novel analogues. The present study attempts to explore the chemical features of ionic liquids responsible for their ecotoxicity towards the green algae Scenedesmus vacuolatus by developing mathematical models using extended topochemical atom (ETA) indices along with other categories of chemical descriptors. The entire study has been conducted with reference to the OECD guidelines for QSAR model development using predictive classification and regression modeling strategies. The best models from both the analyses showed that ecotoxicity of ionic liquids can be decreased by reducing chain length of cationic substituents and increasing hydrogen bond donor feature in cations, and replacing bulky unsaturated anions with simple saturated moiety having less lipophilic heteroatoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudra Narayan Das
- Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Laboratory, Division of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Kunal Roy
- Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Laboratory, Division of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.
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Stringell TB, Bamber RN, Burton M, Lindenbaum C, Skates LR, Sanderson WG. A tool for protected area management: multivariate control charts 'cope' with rare variable communities. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:1667-76. [PMID: 23789076 PMCID: PMC3686200 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Performance assessment, impact detection, and the assessment of regulatory compliance are common scientific problems for the management of protected areas. Some habitats in protected areas, however, are rare and/or variable and are not often selected for study by ecologists because they preclude comparison with controls and high community variability makes meaningful change detection difficult. Shallow coastal saline lagoons are habitats that experience comparatively high levels of stress due to high physical variability. Lagoons are rare, declining habitats found in coastal regions throughout Europe (and elsewhere) where they are identified as one of the habitats most in need of protected area management. The infauna in the sediments of 25 lagoons were sampled. Temporal and spatial variation in three of these [protected] lagoons was investigated further over 5 years. In a multivariate analysis of community structure similarities were found between some lagoons, but in other cases communities were unique or specific to only two sites. The protected lagoons with these unique/specific communities showed significant temporal and spatial variation, yet none of the changes observed were attributed to human impacts and were interpreted as inherent variability. Multivariate control charts can operate without experimental controls and were used to assess community changes within the context of 'normal' lagoon variability. The aim of control chart analysis is to characterize background variability in a parameter and identify when a new observation deviates more than expected. In only 1 year was variability more than expected and corresponded with the coldest December in over 100 years. Multivariate control charts are likely to have wide application in the management of protected areas and other natural systems where variability and/or rarity preclude conventional analytical and experimental approaches but where assessments of condition, impact or regulatory compliance are nonetheless required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B Stringell
- Marine and Freshwater Science Group, Natural Resources Wales Maes y Ffynnon, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, LL57 2DN, U.K ; Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University Exeter Campus Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, U.K
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Roy K, Das RN. QSTR with extended topochemical atom (ETA) indices. 16. Development of predictive classification and regression models for toxicity of ionic liquids towards Daphnia magna. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2013; 254-255:166-178. [PMID: 23608063 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Ionic liquids have been judged much with respect to their wide applicability than their considerable harmful effects towards the living ecosystem which has been observed in many instances. Hence, toxicological introspection of these chemicals by the development of predictive mathematical models can be of good help. This study presents an attempt to develop predictive classification and regression models correlating the structurally derived chemical information of a group of 62 diverse ionic liquids with their toxicity towards Daphnia magna and their interpretation. We have principally used the extended topochemical atom (ETA) indices along with various topological non-ETA and thermodynamic parameters as independent variables. The developed quantitative models have been subjected to extensive statistical tests employing multiple validation strategies from which acceptable results have been reported. The best models obtained from classification and regression studies captured necessary structural information on lipophilicity, branching pattern, electronegativity and chain length of the cationic substituents for explaining ecotoxicity of ionic liquids towards D. magna. The derived information can be successfully used to design better ionic liquid analogues acquiring the qualities of a true eco-friendly green chemical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunal Roy
- Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Laboratory, Division of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.
| | - Rudra Narayan Das
- Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Laboratory, Division of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India
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Paganelli D, Forni G, Marchini A, Mazziotti C, Occhipinti-Ambrogi A. Critical appraisal on the identification of Reference Conditions for the evaluation of ecological quality status along the Emilia-Romagna coast (Italy) using M-AMBI. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2011; 62:1725-1735. [PMID: 21683420 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2010] [Revised: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
According to the European Water Framework Directive, the ecological status (ES) of a water body is determined by comparing observation data with undisturbed Reference Conditions (RCs). Defining RCs is crucial when evaluating the ES of a water body as it strongly affects the final outcome of any index application. Identifying RCs by observing real sites is not feasible in many marine environments, such as the Emilia-Romagna coast (Italy, N-Adriatic Sea). We used a statistical approach on a large dataset to derive RCs for the application of the benthic index M-AMBI in this area. We then applied M-AMBI to samples collected along a gradient of presumed environmental disturbance. The results put 14.8% of the Emilia-Romagna samples in "High" ES, 60.2% in "Good", 23.0% in "Moderate" and 2.0% in "Poor", showing a spatial gradient of improving quality. These results are in agreement with the extensive ecological knowledge available for this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Paganelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell' Ambiente, University of Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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17
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Micheletti C, Gottardo S, Critto A, Chiarato S, Marcomini A. Environmental quality of transitional waters: the lagoon of Venice case study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2011; 37:31-41. [PMID: 20934753 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2009] [Revised: 06/21/2010] [Accepted: 06/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The health status of European aquatic environments, including transitional waters such as coastal lagoons, is regulated by the Water Framework Directive (WFD), which requires the classification of the water bodies' environmental quality and the achievement of a good ecological status by 2015. In the Venice lagoon, a transitional water body located in the northeastern part of Italy, the achievement of a good ecological status is hampered by several anthropogenic and natural pressures, such as sediment and water chemical contamination, and sediment erosion. In order to evaluate the lagoon's environmental quality according to the WFD (i.e. 5 quality classes, from High to Bad), an integrated Weight-of-Evidence methodology was developed and applied to classify the quality of the lagoon water bodies, integrating biological, physico-chemical, chemical, ecotoxicological, and hydromorphological data (i.e. Lines of Evidence, LOE). The quality assessment was carried out in two lagoon habitat typologies (previously defined on the basis of morphological, sediment, and hydrodynamic characteristics) which were selected taking into account the ecological gradient from sea to land, and the differences in anthropogenic pressure and contamination levels. The LOE classification was carried out by using indicators scored by comparing site specific conditions to reference conditions measured in lagoon reference sites, or provided by local, national or European regulations (e.g. Environmental Quality Standards, EQS, for chemicals). Finally, the overall quality status for each water body was calculated by a probabilistic approach, i.e. by reporting the final result as the frequency distribution of quality classes. The developed procedure was applied by using data and information concerning selected LOE and collected from monitoring programs and research studies carried out in the last 15 years in the lagoon of Venice. A set of sampling stations characterized by spatially and temporally coherent information for each LOE was selected, and among these stations, potential reference sites for each water body typology were identified. The quality assessment highlighted that there are specific lagoon areas, especially those located near the industrially developed area, which are highly affected by anthropogenic activities, and that chemical contamination is one of the main pressures affecting ecological status (e.g. macro-benthonic biodiversity) in the Venice lagoon. The integrated quality assessment procedure that was developed provided a new tool supporting decision making, as well as lagoon assessment and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Micheletti
- University Ca' Foscari of Venice, Department of Environmental Sciences, Calle Larga S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy
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18
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Fitch JE, Crowe TP. Effective methods for assessing ecological quality in intertidal soft-sediment habitats. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2010; 60:1726-1733. [PMID: 20619424 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2010] [Revised: 06/16/2010] [Accepted: 06/18/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Impacts of anthropogenic pollution on marine ecosystems are being addressed by legislation to protect and restore coastal and transitional waters. A range of biological measures have been investigated for their ability to indicate anthropogenic disturbance in subtidal soft-sediment habitats, but little work to date has focussed in intertidal habitats. This study investigated the sensitivity of communities, individual taxa, diversity indices and biotic indices to nutrient and organic enrichment in intertidal soft-sediment habitats. Variation in macrofaunal communities was more strongly associated with anthropogenic stressors than with natural environmental variation. Two multimetric indices, M-AMBI and IQI, were more closely associated with nutrient and organic pollution than the AMBI and ITI indices. Intertidal monitoring based on existing monitoring tools offers a cost effective alternative to subtidal monitoring and has potential to form the basis for an ecosystem level approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne E Fitch
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre West, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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19
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Munari C, Mistri M. Towards the application of the Water Framework Directive in Italy: Assessing the potential of benthic tools in Adriatic coastal transitional ecosystems. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2010; 60:1040-1050. [PMID: 20189195 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2009] [Revised: 01/22/2010] [Accepted: 01/25/2010] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The potential of four benthic indices (AMBI/M-AMBI, BENTIX, BITS) was assessed in Italian coastal transitional ecosystems. The community composition showed a strong dominance of lagoonal, tolerant species, and out of more of 400 species found, only about 40 taxa were dominant. The full agreement of the four indices on an undegraded (Good or better) or degraded (Moderate or worse) status occurred only in 32.3% of stations. This study evidenced that BENTIX is inappropriate for eutrophic Adriatic lagoons, and that in such environments M-AMBI classification is actually too much dependent on diversity and richness, and seems unable to capture some peculiarities of benthic assemblages in transitional waters. AMBI and BITS gave similar classifications despite the different level of taxonomic identification needed. The unmodified use of these indices might impair accurate assessment of ecological quality status and decision-making on the managers' point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Munari
- Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
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20
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Dauvin JC, Bellan G, Bellan-Santini D. Benthic indicators: From subjectivity to objectivity - Where is the line? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2010; 60:947-953. [PMID: 20413132 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Accepted: 03/26/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few years, the interest in using benthic indicators to assess marine environments has increased dramatically after a rather long period of relative stagnation, mostly due to the need to assess the status of coastal marine waters required by North American and European regulations. Numerous papers on this topic have been published in the domain of ecology, using a variety of different terms to refer to two categories of information: benthic species and the status of benthic communities. Nowadays, the abundant literature on these two categories makes it possible to comment on (1) the definition of the different terms used by benthic researchers, (2) the current increase of papers of rising complexity about benthic indicators, and (3) the subjectivity and objectivity involved in using benthic indicators. Faced with the increase in the number of methods, we recommend pragmatism and thus the transfer of simple methods to the research consultancies that are responsible for assessing benthic quality in numerous impact studies. Using certain procedures, such as the "sentinel species", the best professional judgement (BPJ) and taxonomic sufficiency (TS), should clearly be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Claude Dauvin
- Université de Lille 1, CNRS UMR 8187 LOG, Station Marine de Wimereux, 28 Avenue Maréchal Foch, B.P. 80, F-62930 Wimereux, France.
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Costa-Dias S, Sousa R, Antunes C. Ecological quality assessment of the lower Lima Estuary. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2010; 61:234-239. [PMID: 20347451 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring biotic factors is gaining in importance within Europe, due in large extent to the ecological approach of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the importance attributed to biological elements in the assessment of quality status. Despite its ecological importance, the Lima Estuary is subjected to a range of perturbations, including urban, agricultural and industrial waste discharge, dredging activities, and introduction of non-indigenous invasive species. This work uses macrozoobenthic data to study the ecological status of the lower Lima Estuary where most disturbance factors are concentrated. We were able to verify consistent differences along space, and to identify different degrees of disturbance in the estuarine area. These results allow us to suggest cost-effective approaches to monitor this estuarine area, aiming on contributing to effective management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgia Costa-Dias
- CIMAR/CIIMAR-Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
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Tataranni M, Lardicci C. Performance of some biotic indices in the real variable world: a case study at different spatial scales in North-Western Mediterranean Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2010; 158:26-34. [PMID: 19783340 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2009.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2009] [Revised: 06/04/2009] [Accepted: 08/14/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyse the variability of four different benthic biotic indices (AMBI, BENTIX, H', M-AMBI) in two marine coastal areas of the North-Western Mediterranean Sea. In each coastal area, 36 replicates were randomly selected according to a hierarchical sampling design, which allowed estimating the variance components of the indices associated with four different spatial scales (ranging from metres to kilometres). All the analyses were performed at two different sampling periods in order to evaluate if the observed trends were consistent over the time. The variance components of the four indices revealed complex trends and different patterns in the two sampling periods. These results highlighted that independently from the employed index, a rigorous and appropriate sampling design taking into account different scales should always be used in order to avoid erroneous classifications and to develop effective monitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariella Tataranni
- Università di Pisa, Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Derna 1, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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23
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Teixeira H, Magalhães Neto J, Patrício J, Veríssimo H, Pinto R, Salas F, Marques JC. Quality assessment of benthic macroinvertebrates under the scope of WFD using BAT, the Benthic Assessment Tool. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2009; 58:1477-1486. [PMID: 19615698 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2009] [Revised: 05/22/2009] [Accepted: 06/08/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the health of ecosystems has become a focal point among researchers worldwide. Recently, the European Water Framework Directive intensified the development of approaches to assess ecosystems' ecological quality. The Benthic Assessment Tool (BAT) is a multimetric approach to evaluate condition of subtidal soft bottom macroinvertebrates of coastal and transitional waters. The effects of anthropogenic disturbances on benthic macroinvertebrate communities, from 1990 to 2006, allowed testing BAT performance in Mondego estuary (Portugal). The method was able to detect decrease on ecological quality, induced essentially by eutrophication and physical disturbances, and follow communities' subsequent recovery. It evidenced, nevertheless, some limitations associated with the unstable nature of estuaries. The ecological classification of key species in the community and the balance expected between ecological groups of estuarine communities had great influence in the final ecological assessment. Shortcomings of the method were discussed in the light of its suitability for assessing transitional waters' condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heliana Teixeira
- IMAR - Institute of Marine Research, c/o Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
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de-la-Ossa-Carretero JA, del-Pilar-Ruso Y, Giménez-Casalduero F, Sánchez-Lizaso JL. Testing BOPA index in sewage affected soft-bottom communities in the north-western Mediterranean. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2009; 58:332-340. [PMID: 19095270 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2008] [Revised: 10/23/2008] [Accepted: 10/29/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of the European directive (ELD) 2000/60/EC has produced the development of several biotic indices based in benthic communities. These indices try to summarise ecological quality status of different communities. However, a universal index that works in all situations is difficult to establish, because there are several sources of variation. Therefore, there is the need for testing and validation of these indices which is required for making management decisions on different scales, and in different regions and communities. In this study we test one of these indices, BOPA index, developed by Dauvin and Ruellet [Dauvin, J.C., Ruellet, T., 2007. Polychaete/amphipod ratio revisited. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55, 215-224] in five locations affected by sewage disposal. These disposals are often released via outfall into shallow subtidal habitats, leading to a common source of pollution in coastal marine environments. BOPA index provides a valuable overview of the gradient status of a benthic environment, discriminating between stations more affected by discharge. Nevertheless, BOPA index, used to establish the ecological quality status, seemed to overestimate the status and hence there is the need to calibrate the thresholds between EcoQs classes as defined for these medium-to-fine sand communities, which are characteristics of shallow sublittoral soft-bottoms of the north-western Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A de-la-Ossa-Carretero
- Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology, University of Alicante, Ap 99 E-03080 Alicante, Spain.
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25
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Magni P, Tagliapietra D, Lardicci C, Balthis L, Castelli A, Como S, Frangipane G, Giordani G, Hyland J, Maltagliati F, Pessa G, Rismondo A, Tataranni M, Tomassetti P, Viaroli P. Animal-sediment relationships: evaluating the 'Pearson-Rosenberg paradigm' in Mediterranean coastal lagoons. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2009; 58:478-486. [PMID: 19162282 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2008] [Revised: 12/05/2008] [Accepted: 12/10/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the applicability of the Pearson-Rosenberg (P-R) conceptual model describing a generalized pattern of response of benthic communities in relation to organic enrichment to Mediterranean Sea coastal lagoons. Consistent with P-R model predictions, benthic diversity and abundance showed two different peaks at low (>2.5-5 mg g(-1)) and high (>25-30 mg g(-1)) total organic carbon (TOC) ranges, respectively. We identified TOC thresholds indicating that risks of reduced benthic diversity should be relatively low at TOC values<about 10 mg g(-1), high at TOC values>about 28 mg g(-1), and intermediate at values in-between. Predictive ability within these ranges was high based on results of re-sampling simulation. While not a direct measure of causality, it is anticipated that these TOC thresholds should serve as a general screening-level indicator for evaluating the likelihood of reduced sediment quality and associated bioeffects in such eutrophic systems of the Mediterranean Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Magni
- CNR-IAMC, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, Località Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09072 Oristano, Italy.
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Bouchet VMP, Sauriau PG. Influence of oyster culture practices and environmental conditions on the ecological status of intertidal mudflats in the Pertuis Charentais (SW France): a multi-index approach. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2008; 56:1898-1912. [PMID: 18752811 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2008.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2008] [Revised: 06/16/2008] [Accepted: 07/13/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The ecological quality status (EcoQ) of intertidal mudflats constrained by Pacific oyster farming was assessed by single (H', AMBI, BENTIX and BOPA) and multimetric (M-AMBI and average score) index approaches in the Pertuis Charentais (SW France). Fifteen sampling stations were monitored seasonally for sedimentological features and macrozoobenthos in 2004. Sediments affected by oyster biodeposits showed organic matter enrichment, and sediments from off-bottom culture sites had higher organic matter contents and lower redox potentials than sediments from on-bottom culture sites. Biotic indices consistently registered responses of macrozoobenthos to organic enrichment but there was only partial agreement between single index-derived EcoQs. The average score was better than M-AMBI and single indices for determining EcoQs. Accordingly, oyster farming alters intertidal macrozoobenthic assemblages moderately, and off-bottom cultures cause more disturbance than on-bottom cultures. Hydrodynamics and seasons may interact with culture practices in smothering/strengthening biodeposition-mediated effects through dispersal/accumulation of biodeposits.
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