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Cuello GV, Saracho Bottero MA, Llanos EN, Garaffo GV, Hines E, Elías R, Jaubet ML. Submarine outfall effect on subtidal macrobenthic communities in a southwestern Atlantic coastal city. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18258. [PMID: 37519750 PMCID: PMC10372403 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Submarine outfalls are an effective alternative for the final discharge of wastewater. The aim was to evaluate the subtidal macrobenthic community's responses and the changes in bottom sedimentary dynamics due to submarine outfall (SO) location. Sampling stages were: before SO (BSO), after SO (ASO) and after treatment plant (AEDAR). Sampling sites were determined at different distances from the coastline (coastal, oceanic, and reference) on both sides of the pipe (North and South). Species shifts (from tolerant to sensitive) were observed along with a decrease in organic matter in the AEDAR Stage. There were changes in the sedimentary dynamic with sediment accumulation on the South side of the SO (finest sediments) and erosion on the North side (coarsest sediments) in the ASO and AEDAR Stages. Species turnover was higher than nesting in all stages. Functional trait analysis allowed the identification of temporal variations in benthic communities. The body size, development mode, feeding mode, habit, adult mobility and tolerance to pollution were useful functional traits to detect changes through Stages (BSO, ASO, and AEDAR). Biotic indices classified the sites as slightly disturbed, indicating a slight improvement in the AEDAR Stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Verónica Cuello
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias, Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC1260, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - María Andrea Saracho Bottero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias, Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC1260, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Elizabeth Noemí Llanos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias, Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC1260, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Griselda Valeria Garaffo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias, Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC1260, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Emiliano Hines
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias, Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC1260, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo Elías
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias, Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
| | - María Lourdes Jaubet
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias, Exactas y Naturales (FCEyN), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMdP), Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC1260, 7600, Mar del Plata, Argentina
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Sivadas SK, Patil AJ. Moving beyond traditional macrofaunal community structure studies in the Indian Ocean continental shelf: a research synthesis based on research weaving. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:19536-19563. [PMID: 36640230 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-25030-0] [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: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Indian Ocean (IO) continental shelf characterized by unique oceanographic and meteorological features and extreme habitat is a biodiversity hotspot region. Marine biodiversity provides valuable resources and services, in terms of economy, cultural, science, and education. Unsustainable exploitation and habitat degradation represent the greatest threat to biodiversity. Understanding how these services will change in the future requires knowledge of marine biodiversity. Although macrofaunal biodiversity is critical for the functioning of shelf systems, it has received much less attention, particularly in the IO, mainly due to logistics reasons precluding our ability to predict future changes. Here, we discuss the state of knowledge of macrofaunal ecology, to identify the knowledge gaps, which will allow for setting research priorities. The new framework in research synthesis, research weaving, that combines systematic mapping with bibliometric analysis was applied. The research weaving approach helps illustrate the evolution of research over time and identifies areas of current research interests and the performance of institutions and collaboration patterns. Data retrieved from the Web of Science were analyzed in the R and VOS Viewer software. The results highlight how macrofaunal research in IO is constrained by spatial and temporal scales, with the majority of studies focused on structural patterns. Moreover, most studies were conducted in a few countries (India, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and South Africa) using different sampling techniques hindering comparison within the IO habitats. Future studies investigating the macrofaunal community using a multidisciplinary approach and scientific collaboration (regional and international) can advance our efforts to close the marine biodiversity knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanitha K Sivadas
- National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NIOT Campus, Pallikaranai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Amit Jagannath Patil
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, No.126, Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710064, China
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Martín García L, Rancel-Rodríguez NM, Sangil C, Reyes J, Benito B, Orellana S, Sansón M. Environmental and human factors drive the subtropical marine forests of Gongolaria abies-marina to extinction. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 181:105759. [PMID: 36191454 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105759] [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: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Large brown macroalgae are foundational threatened species in coastal ecosystems from the subtropical northeastern Atlantic, where they have exhibited a drastic decline in recent years. This study describes the potential habitat of Gongolaria abies-marina, its current distribution and conservation status, and the major drivers of population decline. The results show a strong reduction of more than 97% of G. abies-marina populations in the last thirty years and highlight the effects of drivers vary in terms of spatial heterogeneity. A decrease in the frequency of high waves and high human footprint are the principal factors accounting for the long-term decline in G. abies-marina populations. UV radiation and sea surface temperature have an important correlation only in certain locations. Both the methodology and the large amount of data analyzed in this study provide a valuable tool for the conservation and restoration of threatened macroalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Martín García
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía-CSIC, The Canary Islands, Spain; Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna, The Canary Islands, Spain.
| | - Nereida M Rancel-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna, The Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Carlos Sangil
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna, The Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Javier Reyes
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna, The Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Blas Benito
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio "Ramón Margalef", Universidad de Alicante, Spain
| | - Sharay Orellana
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna, The Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Marta Sansón
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de La Laguna, The Canary Islands, Spain
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Taormina B, Claquin P, Vivier B, Navon M, Pezy JP, Raoux A, Dauvin JC. A review of methods and indicators used to evaluate the ecological modifications generated by artificial structures on marine ecosystems. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 310:114646. [PMID: 35248990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114646] [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: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The current development of human activities at sea (e.g. land reclamation, maritime activity and marine renewable energy) is leading to a significant increase in the number of infrastructures installed in marine settings. These artificial structures provide new hard-bottom habitats for many marine organisms and can thus modify the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems. In order to better evaluate the nature of these modifications as well as the potential benefits and/or impacts generated, it becomes essential to develop assessment methods that can be applied to a wide variety of study sites from harbours to coastal offshore environments. In this context, our study aims to review the different methods and indicators available which are used to measure the modifications of biodiversity and ecological functioning generated by such structures. Among the methods reviewed, we highlight some that were developed specifically for artificial structures, and others intended for various primary uses but which have been successfully transposed to artificial structures. Nevertheless, we also point out the lack of reliable methods concerning some biological ecosystem components impacted by artificial structures. In this context, we require the adaptation or creation of brand-new indicators to achieve a better characterisation of the ecological impacts generated by these structures. Overall, this study highlights a very high number of existing methods, which provide stakeholders with useful tools to study the impacts of artificial structures, and identifies the need to develop integrative indicators to enhance the deployment of new artificial structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Taormina
- Normandie Université, Université de Caen Normandie, F-14032, Caen, France; Laboratoire Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA, UMR CNRS 8067), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, IRD 207, Université des Antilles, Centre de Recherches en Environnement Côtier (CREC), Station Marine, BP49, 54, rue du Docteur Charcot, 14530, Luc-sur-Mer, France; Normandie Université, Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, UMR CNRS 6143 M2C, Université de Caen Normandie, UNIROUEN, 24 rue des Tilleuls, F-14000, Caen, France.
| | - Pascal Claquin
- Normandie Université, Université de Caen Normandie, F-14032, Caen, France; Laboratoire Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA, UMR CNRS 8067), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, IRD 207, Université des Antilles, Centre de Recherches en Environnement Côtier (CREC), Station Marine, BP49, 54, rue du Docteur Charcot, 14530, Luc-sur-Mer, France
| | - Baptiste Vivier
- Normandie Université, Université de Caen Normandie, F-14032, Caen, France; Laboratoire Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA, UMR CNRS 8067), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, IRD 207, Université des Antilles, Centre de Recherches en Environnement Côtier (CREC), Station Marine, BP49, 54, rue du Docteur Charcot, 14530, Luc-sur-Mer, France
| | - Maxine Navon
- Normandie Université, Université de Caen Normandie, F-14032, Caen, France; Laboratoire Biologie des ORganismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA, UMR CNRS 8067), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Université de Caen Normandie, IRD 207, Université des Antilles, Centre de Recherches en Environnement Côtier (CREC), Station Marine, BP49, 54, rue du Docteur Charcot, 14530, Luc-sur-Mer, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Pezy
- Normandie Université, Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, UMR CNRS 6143 M2C, Université de Caen Normandie, UNIROUEN, 24 rue des Tilleuls, F-14000, Caen, France
| | - Aurore Raoux
- Normandie Université, Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, UMR CNRS 6143 M2C, Université de Caen Normandie, UNIROUEN, 24 rue des Tilleuls, F-14000, Caen, France
| | - Jean-Claude Dauvin
- Normandie Université, Université de Caen Normandie, F-14032, Caen, France; Normandie Université, Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, UMR CNRS 6143 M2C, Université de Caen Normandie, UNIROUEN, 24 rue des Tilleuls, F-14000, Caen, France
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Hedfi A, Ali MB, Noureldeen A, Almalki M, Rizk R, Mahmoudi E, Plăvan G, Pacioglu O, Boufahja F. Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on meiobenthic assemblage and biochemical biomarkers in an Oncholaimus campylocercoides (Nematoda) microcosm. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:16529-16548. [PMID: 34651273 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16885-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A microcosm experiment was carried out to determine how benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) may affect marine meiofauna community, with a main emphasis on nematode structure and functional traits. Three increasing concentrations of BaP (i.e. 100, 200 and 300 ng/l, respectively) were used for 30 days. The results revealed a gradual decrease in the abundance of all meiobenthic groups (i.e. nematodes, copepods, amphipods, polychaetes and oligochaetes), except for isopods. Starting at concentrations of 200 and 300 ng/l BaP, respectively, significant changes were observed at community level. At taxonomic level, the nematode communities were dominated at the start of the experiment and also after being exposed or not to BaP by Odontophora villoti, explicable through its high ecologic ubiquity and the presence of well-developed chemosensory organs (i.e. amphids), which potentially increased the avoidance reaction following exposure to this hydrocarbon. Moreover, changes in the activity of several biochemical biomarkers (i.e. catalase 'CAT', gluthatione S-transferase 'GST', and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase 'EROD') were observed in the nematode species Oncholaimus campylocercoides, paralleled by significant decreases in CAT activity for non-gravid females compared to controls at concentrations of 25 ng/l BaP and associated with significant increase in GST and EROD activities for both types of individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amor Hedfi
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manel Ben Ali
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Noureldeen
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Almalki
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roquia Rizk
- Research Centre for Biochemical, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Sustainability Solutions Research Lab, University of Pannonia, Egyetem str. 10, 8200, Veszprém, Hungary
- Biochemisrty Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ezzeddine Mahmoudi
- Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, Coastal Ecology and Ecotoxicology Unit, University of Carthage, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisia
| | - Gabriel Plăvan
- Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Octavian Pacioglu
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Fehmi Boufahja
- Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, Coastal Ecology and Ecotoxicology Unit, University of Carthage, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisia.
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Pandey V, Jha DK, Kumar PS, Santhanakumar J, Venkatnarayanan S, Prince Prakash Jebakumar J, Dharani G. Effect of multiple stressors on the functional traits of sub-tidal macrobenthic fauna: A case study of the southeast coast of India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 175:113355. [PMID: 35101746 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113355] [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: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The use of functional information of taxa is a promising approach to uncover the underlying mechanism of ecosystem functioning. We used biological trait analysis (BTA) to assess the functional response of subtidal macrobenthos with multiple stressors. Seventeen environmental variables from 42 stations of five coastal districts were assessed along the southeast coast of India. Dominant fauna was assigned into 20 categories belonging to six functional traits. Additionally, we used five ecological groups (EG) of AMBI as a covariable trait to validate functional traits and EG relationship. The trait composition in the communities showed significant variation between undisturbed and disturbed areas. RLQ/Fourth corner combined approach illustrated the effects of stressors and isolated the corresponding species associated with different stressors. Smaller, short-lived, deposit-feeding, and discretely motile fauna occurred at the disturbed areas, whereas, larger, long-lived, and highly motile at the undisturbed area. Dissolved oxygen, organic enrichment, and metals concentration were the main environmental descriptors influencing the trait composition. The results highlight the importance of the BTA approach to uncover the response of the macrobenthic community to anthropogenic disturbances-driven impacts in multi-stressed near-shore coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Pandey
- Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai 600100, India.
| | - Dilip Kumar Jha
- Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai 600100, India
| | - P Sathish Kumar
- Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai 600100, India
| | - J Santhanakumar
- Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai 600100, India
| | - S Venkatnarayanan
- Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai 600100, India
| | - J Prince Prakash Jebakumar
- Coastal and Environmental Engineering, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai 600100, India
| | - G Dharani
- Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Chennai 600100, India.
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Barrick A, Barjhoux I, Marion JM, Châtel A, Perrein-Ettajani H, Mouloud M, Gillet P, Méttais I, Mouneyrac C. Investigating the impact of remediation efforts on Hedistediversicolor in the Seine estuary using multiple levels of biological organization. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 173:105528. [PMID: 34847510 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105528] [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: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Seine Estuary is historically one of the most contaminated estuaries in Europe. In 2002 the estuary underwent major redevelopment which emphasized environmental remediation to measure biological effects. The present study investigated the health status of the sentinel species Hediste diversicolor in the Seine estuary by comparing data from a sampling campaign immediately after the Seine underwent reconstruction and 10 years afterward. Both studies implemented multiple levels of biological organization ranging from enzymatic biomarkers to population density. Integrative modeling was used to establish a holistic status assessment for H. diversicolor in the Seine. H. diversicolor populations in the Seine estuary were impacted in both campaigns suggesting no significant improvements over the 10-year period. This interpretation however can be improved by increasing the number of reference sites used to establish the baseline natural variation, integrating additional environmental parameters into the model and measuring additional biological endpoints, such as reproductive status.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Barrick
- BIOSSE, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France; Cawthron Institute, 98 Halifax st East, 7010, Nelson, New Zealand.
| | - I Barjhoux
- UMR-I 02 Stress Environnementaux et Biosurveillance des milieu aquatiques (SEBIO), UFR SEN, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Moulin de la Housse, BP 1039, Reims, France
| | - J M Marion
- LARIS (Laboratoire Angevin de Recherche en Ingénierie des Systèmes), EA-7315, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France
| | - A Châtel
- BIOSSE, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France
| | - H Perrein-Ettajani
- BIOSSE, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France
| | - M Mouloud
- BIOSSE, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France
| | - P Gillet
- BIOSSE, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France
| | - I Méttais
- BIOSSE, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France
| | - C Mouneyrac
- BIOSSE, Université Catholique de l'Ouest, 3 Place André Leroy, BP10808, 49008, Angers Cedex 01, France
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Distribution Patterns of Benthic Foraminifera in Fish Farming Areas (Corsica, France): Implications for the Implementation of Biotic Indices in Biomonitoring Studies. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13202821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Corsican marine aquaculture is one of the highest contributors of fish production in France, which may result in environmental perturbations caused by organic matter (OM) accumulation under fish farms and impacting natural communities. This study aimed to (1) characterise the environmental conditions at two different fish farms, (2) monitor the response of benthic foraminiferal species to this activity, and (3) assess the accuracy of existing foraminiferal biotic indices. In 2017, sea floor sediment was sampled in transects from two Corsican fish farms for living foraminiferal and sedimentary analyses. Four indices were calculated and compared: exp(H′bc), Foram-AMBI, Foram Stress Index and TSI-Med. A significant increase in total organic carbon (TOC) has been shown, mainly below the fish cages. Communities were characterized by a shift from high density, opportunistic and tolerant species under the cages to lower densities and more sensitive species further away. According to their distribution patterns along the TOC gradient, we propose to update the ecological group classification of seven species to improve Foram-AMBI’s accuracy and sensitivity: Triloculina oblonga and Quinqueloculina lamarckiana to Ecological Group (EG) I; Rosalina bradyi to EGIII; and Bolivina dilatata, Bulimina aculeata and Quinqueloculina stalkeri to EGIV. We recommend prioritising the use of TSI-Med and Foram-AMBI with the updated list to assess ecological quality in coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
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van der Loos LM, Nijland R. Biases in bulk: DNA metabarcoding of marine communities and the methodology involved. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3270-3288. [PMID: 32779312 PMCID: PMC8359149 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
With the growing anthropogenic pressure on marine ecosystems, the need for efficient monitoring of biodiversity grows stronger. DNA metabarcoding of bulk samples is increasingly being implemented in ecosystem assessments and is more cost-efficient and less time-consuming than monitoring based on morphology. However, before raw sequences are obtained from bulk samples, a profound number of methodological choices must be made. Here, we critically review the recent methods used for metabarcoding of marine bulk samples (including benthic, plankton and diet samples) and indicate how potential biases can be introduced throughout sampling, preprocessing, DNA extraction, marker and primer selection, PCR amplification and sequencing. From a total of 64 studies evaluated, our recommendations for best practices include to (a) consider DESS as a fixative instead of ethanol, (b) use the DNeasy PowerSoil kit for any samples containing traces of sediment, (c) not limit the marker selection to COI only, but preferably include multiple markers for higher taxonomic resolution, (d) avoid touchdown PCR profiles, (e) use a fixed annealing temperature for each primer pair when comparing across studies or institutes, (f) use a minimum of three PCR replicates, and (g) include both negative and positive controls. Although the implementation of DNA metabarcoding still faces several technical complexities, we foresee wide-ranging advances in the near future, including improved bioinformatics for taxonomic assignment, sequencing of longer fragments and the use of whole-genome information. Despite the bulk of biases involved in metabarcoding of bulk samples, if appropriate controls are included along the data generation process, it is clear that DNA metabarcoding provides a valuable tool in ecosystem assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luna M. van der Loos
- Marine Animal Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Present address:
Department of BiologyPhycology Research GroupGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Reindert Nijland
- Marine Animal Ecology GroupWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
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Yoon SJ, Hong S, Kim HG, Lee J, Kim T, Kwon BO, Kim J, Ryu J, Khim JS. Macrozoobenthic community responses to sedimentary contaminations by anthropogenic toxic substances in the Geum River Estuary, South Korea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:142938. [PMID: 33138998 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the sedimentary pollution by persistent toxic substances (PTSs) and their potential impacts on the macrobenthic faunal community in the Geum River Estuary, South Korea. Sediment and benthic macrofauna samples were collected from eight sites every two months during the period of February to December in 2015. Target PTSs encompassed metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn), one metalloid (As), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and alkylphenols (APs). The significant difference to the environment of the inner and outer parts of the estuary (p < 0.05) was found with relatively high concentrations of PTSs in sediment from the inner estuary. The concentrations of Cu and Zn exceeded the sediment quality guidelines of Korea representing a potential risk to aquatic organisms. The primary source of PAHs was by-products of diesel and gasoline combustion (37%), followed by a coke oven (32%) and oil-burning (31%). The macrofaunal community was spatially distinguished between the inner and outer parts of the estuary (p < 0.05), regardless of the season. In the inner part of the estuary, the density of the macrofaunal community was high, due to the increased opportunistic species and/or some indicator species (organic polluted or enrichment), implying that the given environment was disturbed. Among the environmental parameters analyzed by the distance-based linear model (DistLM), salinity, chlorophyll-a, and nutrient concentrations were found to be key factors controlling the changes in macrofaunal community structure. Such changes in the closed estuary system would indicate that each taxonomic group had to adjust to lower salinities and alternative food sources. Overall, the distribution of PTSs and macrozoobenthic communities in the Geum River Estuary collectively reflected the environmental gradients caused by surrounding activities in the inner part of the estuary together with direct effects by the irregular inflow of freshwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seo Joon Yoon
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongjin Hong
- Department of Ocean Environmental Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeong-Gi Kim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghyun Lee
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Taewoo Kim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Oh Kwon
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Kunsan National University, Kunsan 54150, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeseong Kim
- Water & Eco-Bio Co., Ltd., Jungboo Building, Miryong-dong, Kunsan 54156, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongseong Ryu
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, Anyang University, Ganghwagun, Incheon 23038, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Seong Khim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Research Institute of Oceanography, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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11
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First Assessment of the Benthic Meiofauna Sensitivity to Low Human-Impacted Mangroves in French Guiana. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12030338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bioindicators assess the mangroves ecological state according to the types of pressures but they differ with the ecosystem’s specificities. We investigated benthic meiofauna diversity and structure within the low human-impacted mangroves in French Guiana (South America) in response to sediment variables with various distances to the main city. Contaminant’s concentrations differed among the stations, but they remained below toxicity guidelines. Meiofauna structure (Foraminifera, Kinorhyncha, Nematoda) however varied accordingly. Nematode’s identification brought details on the sediment’s quality. The opportunistic genus Paraethmolaimus (Jensen, 1994) strongly correlated to the higher concentrations of Hg, Pb. Anoxic sediments were marked by organic enrichment in pesticides, PCB, and mangrove litter products and dominance of two tolerant genus, Terschellingia (de Man, 1888) and Spirinia (Gerlach, 1963). In each of these two stations, we found many Desmodora individuals (de Man, 1889) with the presence of epibionts highlighting the nematodes decreased fitness and defenses. Oxic sediments without contaminants were distinguished by the sensitive genera Pseudocella (Filipjev, 1927) and a higher diversity of trophic groups. Our results suggested a nematodes sensitivity to low contaminants concentrations. Further investigations at different spatio-temporal scales and levels of deterioration, would be necessary to use of this group as bioindicator of the mangroves’ ecological status.
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12
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Viana IG, Blanco R, Nieto Ó, Molares A, Beiras R. Integrative assessment of ecological responses and chemical contamination of urban wastewater outfalls on soft bottom sediments of an estuarine system. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 163:105234. [PMID: 33310642 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.105234] [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: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sewage outfalls are one of the main anthropogenic impacts to coastal systems. Linking the chemical analysis in sediment, and changes in the ecological responses is one of the main tasks in ecosystem assessment for the protection of the marine environment. A three-tiered approach to evaluate the impact of the sewage of a recently built and obsolete Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants (UWWTPs) was performed. The sewage from each UWWTP differentially affected surrounding sediments. Macrobenthic community changes were influenced by the chemical composition in the sediments but also by grain size and organic matter. Abundance of the different families of the macrobenthic communities were correlated with most of the chemicals analyzed. On the contrary, toxicity bioassays were correlated with Zn and PCB concentrations but not with environmental variables. The toxicity tests linked the effect of chemical contamination on macrobenthic communities. A joint assessment of both chemical concentrations and their ecological effects is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés G Viana
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; ECIMAT-CIM, University of Vigo, Illa de Toralla S/n, 36331, Vigo, Galicia, Spain.
| | - Raimundo Blanco
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; ECIMAT-CIM, University of Vigo, Illa de Toralla S/n, 36331, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| | - Óscar Nieto
- Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| | - Alberto Molares
- Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
| | - Ricardo Beiras
- Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, University of Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Galicia, Spain; ECIMAT-CIM, University of Vigo, Illa de Toralla S/n, 36331, Vigo, Galicia, Spain
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13
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Brauko KM, Cerveira AF, Freitas RF, Hadlich HL, Beras T, Fonseca AL, Pagliosa PR. Comparing structural and functional approaches to distinguish benthic communities from eutrophic and non-eutrophic estuaries. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 157:111290. [PMID: 32658668 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111290] [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: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The performance of three approaches for macrobenthic classification in distinguishing communities subjected to different environmental conditions was compared: i) the traditional species-based approach; ii) a tolerance-based approach according to ecological groups of the AMBI index; and iii) a character-based approach using biological traits. We used a hierarchical sampling design including three progressively smaller spatial scales, considering that the environmental degradation influence benthic communities at the larger spatial scale. Despite small-scale spatial variations, all approaches performed similarly, distinguishing eutrophic from non-eutrophic benthic communities as they varied significantly at the larger scale, corresponding to the scale at which human induced changes act. Our results suggest that all three methodological approaches could be used as operational criteria to assess estuarine environmental quality, and despite more meaningful, there is still a degree of subjectivity in functional approaches, associated to the lack of more detailed information on macrofaunal life-cycles and levels of tolerance to disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Brauko
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Coordenadoria Especial de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Conservação Marinha, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
| | - A F Cerveira
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Coordenadoria Especial de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Conservação Marinha, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - R F Freitas
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Coordenadoria Especial de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Conservação Marinha, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - H L Hadlich
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Departamento de Oceanografia, Grupo de Ecologia Bêntica, 29075-910 Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - T Beras
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Coordenadoria Especial de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Conservação Marinha, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - A L Fonseca
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Coordenadoria Especial de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Marinha, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - P R Pagliosa
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Coordenadoria Especial de Oceanografia, Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Conservação Marinha, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
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14
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Prazeres M, Martínez-Colón M, Hallock P. Foraminifera as bioindicators of water quality: The FoRAM Index revisited. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 257:113612. [PMID: 31784269 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs worldwide are degrading at alarming rates due to local and global stressors. There are ongoing needs for bioindicator systems that can be used to assess reef health status, the potential for recovery following destructive events such as tropical storms, and for the success of coral transplants. Benthic foraminiferal shells are ubiquitous components of carbonate sediment in reef environments that can be sampled at minimal cost and environmental impact. Here we review the development and application of the FoRAM Index (FI), which provides a bioindicator metric for water quality that supports reef accretion. We outline the strengths and limitations of the FI, and propose how it can be applied more effectively across different geographical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Prazeres
- Marine Biodiversity Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
| | | | - Pamela Hallock
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
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15
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Vassallo P, Paoli C, Aliani S, Cocito S, Morri C, Bianchi CN. Benthic diversity patterns and predictors: A study case with inferences for conservation. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110748. [PMID: 31784263 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Understanding which drivers cause diversity patterns is a key issue in conservation. Here we applied a spatially explicit model to predict marine benthic diversity patterns according to environmental factors in the NW Mediterranean Sea. While most conservation-oriented diversity studies consider species richness only and neglect equitability, we measured separately species richness, equitability, and 'overall' diversity (i.e., the Shannon-Wiener H' function) on a dataset of 890 benthic species × 209 samples. Diversity values were predicted by means of Random Forest regression, on the basis of 10 factors: depth, distance from the coast, distance from the shelf break, latitude, sea-floor slope, sediment grain size, sediment sorting, distance from harbours and marinas, distance from rivers, and sampling gear. Predictions by Random Forests were accurate, the main predictors being latitude, sediment grain size, depth and distance from the coast. Based on predicted values, diversity hotspots were identified as those localities where indices were in the 15% top segment of ranked values. Only a minority of the diversity hotspots was included within the boundaries of the protection institutes established in the region. Marine protected areas are often created in sites harbouring important coastal habitats, which risks neglecting the diversity hidden in the sedimentary seafloor. We suggest that marine protected areas should accommodate portions of sedimentary habitat within their boundaries to improve diversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Vassallo
- DiSTAV (Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, I-16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Paoli
- DiSTAV (Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, I-16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Stefano Aliani
- ISMAR (Institute of Marine Sciences), CNR, Forte Santa Teresa, I-19036 Pozzuolo di Lerici, SP, Italy
| | - Silvia Cocito
- ENEA (Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), Marine Environment Research Centre, I-19100 La Spezia, Italy
| | - Carla Morri
- DiSTAV (Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, I-16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Carlo Nike Bianchi
- DiSTAV (Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences), University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, I-16132 Genova, Italy.
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16
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Egres AG, Hatje V, Gallucci F, Machado ME, Barros F. Effects of an experimental oil spill on the structure and function of benthic assemblages with different history of exposure to oil perturbation. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 152:104822. [PMID: 31668831 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The present study compared the short-term effects of a diesel oil spill on the strucure and function of nematode and macrobenthic assemblages between tidal flats with different history of exposure to oil perturbation. A manipulative field experiment was conducted, where oil exposed treatments were contrasted with controls, during four successive times, two before and two after the oil spills. During the oil spill the death and the presence of diverse debilitated macrofaunal organisms were observed in the oil treatments. However, 24 h later no significant changes were identified, suggesting that the impacted plots were quickly recolonized. Nematode assemblages showed a decrease in overall density and an increase of r-strategist traits such as non-selective deposit feeders and colonizers at perturbed treatments from one of the historically non-perturbed tidal flats. We discuss the mechanisms responsible by distinctive patterns of response observed between the two benthic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Gonzalez Egres
- Laboratório de Ecologia Bentônica (LEB), Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Biologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, Campus de Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Vanessa Hatje
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, BA, Brazil
| | - Fabiane Gallucci
- Instituto do Mar da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Carvalho de Mendonça, 144, Santos, São Paulo, 11030-400, Brazil
| | - Maria Elisabete Machado
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, s/n, Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, BA, Brazil
| | - Francisco Barros
- Laboratório de Ecologia Bentônica (LEB), Centro Interdisciplinar de Energia e Ambiente (CIEnAm), Instituto de Biologia da Universidade Federal da Bahia, Rua Barão de Jeremoabo, Campus de Ondina, Salvador, 40170-115, Bahia, Brazil
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17
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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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18
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Pelletier MC, Gold AJ, Copeland J, Gonzalez L, August PV. Landscape structure and land use affect estuarine benthic invertebrates in the Virginian Biogeographic Province, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:252. [PMID: 30919081 PMCID: PMC6657356 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7401-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries are dynamic transition zones linking freshwater and oceanic habitats. These productive ecosystems are threatened by a variety of stressors including human modification of coastal watersheds. In this study, we examined potential linkages between estuarine condition and the watershed using multimodel inference. We examined attributes at the watershed scale as well as those associated with riparian areas but found that they were highly correlated. We also examined whether attributes closer to the estuary were more strongly related to benthic invertebrate condition and found that this was not generally true. In contrast, variability within the estuary strongly impacted model results and suggests that future modeling should incorporate estuarine variability or focus on the individual stations within the estuary. Modeling estuarine condition indicated that inherent landscape structure (e.g., estuarine area, watershed area, watershed:estuary ratio) is important to predicting benthic invertebrate condition and needs to be considered in the context of watershed/ estuary planning and restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marguerite C Pelletier
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA.
| | - Arthur J Gold
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jane Copeland
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Liliana Gonzalez
- Department of Computer Science and Statistics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Peter V August
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
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19
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Braga MA, Brauko KM, Vicentini M, Salgado LD, Silva de Assis HC, Dolatto RG, Grassi MT, Sandrini-Neto L, Lana PC. Cytotoxicity and enzymatic biomarkers as early indicators of benthic responses to the soluble-fraction of diesel oil. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2018; 164:21-31. [PMID: 30092389 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.07.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Xenobiotics from oil tanker leaks and industrial discharges are amongst the main human impacts to confined coastal areas. We assessed the genotoxic responses to the water-soluble fraction of diesel oil in the polychaete Laeonereis culveri and the bivalve Anomalocardia flexuosa, two widespread benthic species in subtropical estuaries from the Southwestern Atlantic. We hypothesized that the highest responsiveness would be expressed by significantly different biomarkers responses between control and oil-impacted treatments. Responsiveness to diesel oil was investigated using an experimental design with two fixed factors (contaminant percentages and times of exposure). After exposure, we monitored the responses of the oxidative stress enzymes and performed micronuclei tests. Results were congruent for both species. Antioxidant defense of glutathione S-transferase and the induction of micronuclei and nuclear buds, the latter just for the bivalve, were significantly affected by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, with significant increases on the seventh day of exposure and in the higher concentrations, compared to controls groups. We assessed the benefits and drawbacks of using each biomarker in laboratory experiments. Both species are indicators of early, and rapid responses to genotoxic contaminants in subtropical estuarine habitats. We suggest that the micronuclei frequency in A. flexuosa is a simple, fast and cheap test for genotoxicity in oil-impacted areas. Such early biomarkers are needed to develop better protocols for impact assessment and monitoring under real field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Araki Braga
- Center for Marine Studies, Federal University of Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil.
| | - Kalina M Brauko
- Nucleus for Marine Studies, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Maiara Vicentini
- Pharmacology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Lilian D Salgado
- Pharmacology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marco T Grassi
- Chemistry Department, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo C Lana
- Center for Marine Studies, Federal University of Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil
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20
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Becherucci ME, Jaubet ML, Saracho Bottero MA, Llanos EN, Elías R, Garaffo GV. Rapid sewage pollution assessment by means of the coverage of epilithic taxa in a coastal area in the SW Atlantic. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 628-629:826-834. [PMID: 29455132 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The sewage pollution impact over coastal environment represents one of the main reasons explaining the deterioration of marine coastal ecosystems around the globe. This paper aims to detect promptly a putative sewage pollution impact in a Southwestern Atlantic coastal area of Argentina as well as to identify a straightforward way for monitoring, based on the relative abundance coverage of the intertidal epilithic taxa. Four sampling sites were distributed at increased distances from the sewage outfall where the cover of individual epilithic species was visually estimated. The surrounded outfall area (i.e. outfall site) resulted polluted with high percentages of organic matter in sediment and Enterococcus concentration in seawater. The structure of the community showed a remarkable difference between the polluted site (outfall site) and the unpolluted sites. The polychaete Boccardia proboscidea dominated the outfall site with variable abundances of the green algae Ulva sp. during the period of study, decreasing the diversity of the community, while the mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii and variable abundances of several algae species dominated the unpolluted sites. The monitoring of the benthic community represents an effective, non-destructive, relative inexpensive and rapid method to assess the health of the coastal environment in the study area. The large abundance of B. proboscidea along with the absence of B. rodriguezii individuals at <300m to the sewage outfall discharge allowed the success of this classical monitoring method in a temperate marine-coastal ecosystem with certain gradient of pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Becherucci
- Grupo Ecología, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Funes 3250, B7602AYJ Mar del Plata, Argentina.
| | - M L Jaubet
- Grupo Bioindicadores Bentónicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Funes 3250, B7602AYJ Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - M A Saracho Bottero
- Grupo Bioindicadores Bentónicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Funes 3250, B7602AYJ Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - E N Llanos
- Grupo Bioindicadores Bentónicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Funes 3250, B7602AYJ Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - R Elías
- Grupo Bioindicadores Bentónicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Funes 3250, B7602AYJ Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - G V Garaffo
- Grupo Bioindicadores Bentónicos, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Funes 3250, B7602AYJ Mar del Plata, Argentina
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21
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Bouchet VMP, Telford RJ, Rygg B, Oug E, Alve E. Can benthic foraminifera serve as proxies for changes in benthic macrofaunal community structure? Implications for the definition of reference conditions. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 137:24-36. [PMID: 29503108 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Benthic macrofauna is one of the most widely used biological groups to assess the ecological status of marine systems. Lately, attention has been paid to similar use of benthic foraminifera. In this study, distribution patterns of benthic foraminiferal and macrofaunal species were investigated simultaneously in 11 fjords in southeastern Norway in order to assess correlations and responses to environmental conditions. Selected fjords allowed to investigate contrasted environmental conditions from low total organic carbon (TOC) content (sediment TOC < 2.7%) in normoxia (bottom-water [O2] > 2 mL O2.L-1) up to high TOC content (> 3.4%) in severe hypoxia (< 0.5 mL O2.L-1). Environmental parameters comprised bottom-water dissolved oxygen, grain size, total organic carbon, total nitrogen (TN), pigments and depth below threshold (DBT). Foraminiferal and macrofaunal community data were significantly correlated (Procrustes analysis m2 = 0.66, p = 0.001). Hence, benthic foraminiferal distribution patterns mirror those of benthic macrofauna. However, as opposed to the foraminifera, macrofauna was not recorded at the most oxygen-depleted stations and, hence, was more sensitive to severe oxygen depletion. With regard to assigning species to ecological groups for ecological quality status assessment, the results suggest that species, e.g. Spiroplectammina biformis (foraminifera), Scalibregma inflatum (macrofauna), may exhibit different ecological requirements depending on their habitat. Considering the observed congruent patterns of benthic foraminifera and macrofauna, palaeo-communities of benthic foraminifera could be used as indicators of reference conditions for benthic macrofaunal community structure. This would however need further developments of algorithms to perform such a translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent M P Bouchet
- Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1047, Blindern 0316 Oslo, Norway; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F 62930 Wimereux, France.
| | - Richard J Telford
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Allegaten 41, 5007 Bergen, Norway
| | - Brage Rygg
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadallèen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Oug
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Region South, Jon Lilletuns vei 3, 4879 Grimstad, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Alve
- Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1047, Blindern 0316 Oslo, Norway
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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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23
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Louiz I, Palluel O, Ben-Attia M, Aït-Aïssa S, Hassine OKB. Liver histopathology and biochemical biomarkers in Gobius niger and Zosterisessor ophiocephalus from polluted and non-polluted Tunisian lagoons (Southern Mediterranean Sea). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 128:248-258. [PMID: 29571371 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to appraise the response of a multi-marker approach in fish species, Gobius niger and Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, in a polluted lagoon (Bizerte lagoon: MB and ML sites) and in a reference site (Ghar-El-Melh lagoon entrance) by the analysis of physiological indexes, liver histopathology and some biochemical biomarkers. The results showed liver hypertrophy in fish collected from Bizerte lagoon as well as many non-specific lesions, unlike the reference site. All Bizerte lagoon sites had the same prevalence of histopathological lesions, but the mean intensity (MI) of parasites seemed to be more sensible as an indicator of pollution levels. Indeed, parasite MI was more important in MB site that has a higher pollution level. Also, biochemical biomarkers showed an induction in Bizerte lagoon sites with some differences within sites and species. The impact of the continuous release of pollution on the biomarker's response is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtissem Louiz
- Université de Carthage, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Laboratoire de Biosurveillance de l'Environnement (LR01/ES14), 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia; Université de Tunis-El-Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Unité de Recherche de Biologie Intégrative et Écologie Évolutive et Fonctionnelle des Milieux Aquatiques (UR11/ES08), 2092 El Manar, Tunisia.
| | - Olivier Palluel
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité d'Écotoxicologie In Vitro et In Vivo, f-60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Mossadok Ben-Attia
- Université de Carthage, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Laboratoire de Biosurveillance de l'Environnement (LR01/ES14), 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia
| | - Sélim Aït-Aïssa
- Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Unité d'Écotoxicologie In Vitro et In Vivo, f-60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France.
| | - Oum Kalthoum Ben Hassine
- Université de Tunis-El-Manar, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Unité de Recherche de Biologie Intégrative et Écologie Évolutive et Fonctionnelle des Milieux Aquatiques (UR11/ES08), 2092 El Manar, Tunisia
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24
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Camargo MZ, Sandrini-Neto L, Carreira RS, Camargo MG. Effects of hydrocarbon pollution in the structure of macrobenthic assemblages from two large estuaries in Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 125:66-76. [PMID: 28789782 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.07.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Changes in the structure of benthic macrofauna and its relationship with hydrocarbon contamination were determined at different spatial scales in sublittoral sediments of two large estuaries in Brazil. Guanabara Bay (GB) is a heavily polluted estuary due to the presence of a large industrial complex and high demographic density. Laranjeiras Bay (LB) lies in an Environmental Protection Area and can still be considered as preserved from human activities. Despite some spatial differences within each bay, the PAHs concentrations were significantly and consistently higher in GB, with values generally above the threshold effect levels. No signs of hydrocarbon contamination were observed in LB. Macrofauna abundance, diversity and overall assemblage structure were largely different between bays. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP), used to model the relationship between macrofauna and PAHs levels, indicated that this class of hydrocarbons is the main structuring factor of soft-bottom assemblages in both bays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Zeglin Camargo
- Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Beira Mar s/n, CEP 83255-976, PO Box 61, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Sandrini-Neto
- Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Beira Mar s/n, CEP 83255-976, PO Box 61, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Renato S Carreira
- LabMAM/Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 22451-900, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Maurício G Camargo
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rua Doutor Vaz Dias Júnior, CEP 96205-080 Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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25
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Punzo E, Gomiero A, Tassetti AN, Strafella P, Santelli A, Salvalaggio V, Spagnolo A, Scarcella G, De Biasi AM, Kozinkova L, Fabi G. Environmental Impact of Offshore Gas Activities on the Benthic Environment: A Case Study. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2017; 60:340-356. [PMID: 28488088 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-017-0886-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Multidisciplinary monitoring of the impact of offshore gas platforms on northern and central Adriatic marine ecosystems has been conducted since 1998. Beginning in 2006, 4-5 year investigations spanning the period before, during, and after rig installation have explored the effects of its construction and presence on macrozoobenthic communities, sediment, water quality, pollutant bioaccumulation, and fish assemblages. In this study, sediment samples collected at increasing distance from an offshore gas platform before, during and after its construction were subjected to chemical analysis and assessment of benthic communities. Ecological indices were calculated to evaluate the ecological status of the area. Ecotoxicological analysis of sediment was performed to establish whether pollutants are transferred to biota. The study applied a before-after control-impact design to assess the effects of rig construction and presence and provide reference data on the possible impacts of any further expansion of the gas extraction industry in the already heavily exploited Adriatic Sea. Only some of the metals investigated (barium, chromium, cadmium, and zinc) showed a different spatial and/or temporal distribution that may be platform-related. In the early phases, the sediment concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were below the detection limit at all sites; they then became detectable, but without significant spatial differences. The present findings suggest that the environmental effects of offshore gas platforms may be difficult to quantify, interpret, and generalize, because they are influenced by numerous, often local, abiotic, and biotic variables in different and unpredictable ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Punzo
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy.
| | - A Gomiero
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
- International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS)-Environment, Mekjarvik 12, N-4070, Randaberg, Norway
| | - A N Tassetti
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - P Strafella
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - A Santelli
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - V Salvalaggio
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - A Spagnolo
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - G Scarcella
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - A M De Biasi
- Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata (CIBM), Livorno, Italy
| | - L Kozinkova
- Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata (CIBM), Livorno, Italy
| | - G Fabi
- National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Largo Fieradella Pesca 1, 60125, Ancona, Italy
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Mulik J, Sukumaran S, Srinivas T, Vijapure T. Comparative efficacy of benthic biotic indices in assessing the Ecological Quality Status (EcoQS) of the stressed Ulhas estuary, India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 120:192-202. [PMID: 28511940 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.05.014] [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: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ecostatus of Ulhas estuary, one of the most polluted estuaries along the industrialized and urbanized northwest coast of India, was evaluated by six widely accepted benthic indices viz. H'(log2), AMBI, M-AMBI, BENTIX, BOPA and BO2A to test their efficiency in a tropical setting. The mesohaline zone, which presented eutrophic conditions, was classified as 'bad' by all indices due to the azoic status. Despite significant correlations obtained between indices, there were discrepancies in the accurate level of EcoQS assigned to each station. AMBI was observed to be most efficient in indicating a clear spatial variability from a 'poor' to 'bad' ecological quality status in the middle and upstream zones to an improved status in the downstream region. Limitations of all indices are discussed in light of their suitability for assessing the estuarine environmental condition. The present results could provide a fillip to environmental improvement initiatives currently being undertaken in the estuary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Mulik
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053, India
| | - Soniya Sukumaran
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053, India.
| | - Tatiparthi Srinivas
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053, India
| | - Tejal Vijapure
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre Andheri (W), Mumbai 400 053, India
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27
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Garaffo GV, Jaubet ML, Becherucci ME, Elías R. Assessing environmental health using ecological indices for soft bottom in sewage-affected rocky shores: The case of the largest seaside resort of SW Atlantic. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 115:233-239. [PMID: 27979615 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Efficient ecological indices can reflect the differences between impacted and nonimpacted sites, leading to significant variations at the contamination spatial scale. Here, we evaluated the spatial-temporal variability of 3 ecological indices (AMBI, M-AMBI, and BENTIX) in response to the distinct levels of sewage contamination. The indices were evaluated in two different ways: including Brachidontes rodriguezii (IBR) and excluding B. rodriguezii (EBR). The fact that mussel beds create a secondary infaunal habitat allows us to test these indices for soft bottoms in areas with rocky bottoms. The effectiveness and the level of agreement of these indices were increased when they were calculated with EBR. BENTIX and M-AMBI produced under- and overestimations of the ecological status of the studied sites. AMBI (EBR) seems to be better suited for environmental quality assessment in the study area. This index reduces the processing time of samples; thus, the AMBI (EBR) index could be used as a robust management tool for monitoring programs in areas with hard substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- G V Garaffo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Deán Funes 3350, B 7602 AYL Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - M L Jaubet
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Deán Funes 3350, B 7602 AYL Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M E Becherucci
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Deán Funes 3350, B 7602 AYL Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - R Elías
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Departamento de Ciencias Marinas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Deán Funes 3350, B 7602 AYL Mar del Plata, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, C1033AAJ Buenos Aires, Argentina
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28
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Sivadas SK, Nagesh R, Gupta GVM, Gaonkar U, Mukherjee I, Ramteke D, Ingole BS. Testing the efficiency of temperate benthic biotic indices in assessing the ecological status of a tropical ecosystem. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 106:62-76. [PMID: 27016331 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.026] [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: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the ecological status of tropical coastal waters using the temperate benthic indices and examine the effect of seasonal variability on the performance of benthic indices. Macrobenthic samples were collected from northwest to southeast coast of India during 2003-2012 and we tested different univariate indices, ecological strategies, indicator species and multimetric indices. AMBI and multimetric indices performed satisfactorily in evaluating the ecological status. Seasonal variability on the biotic indices was observed during the southwest monsoon and fall intermonsoon period due to recruitment. Therefore, we recommended the non-monsoon period (January-May) as a suitable time of the year to use the indices for effective assessment of the Indian coastal waters. Results show that, the temperate benthic indices are efficient in assessing the tropical environmental status. However, complementary use of different indices is suggested for accurate assessment of the environmental status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanitha K Sivadas
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India.
| | - Rahul Nagesh
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
| | - G V M Gupta
- Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Kochi, India
| | - Udaykumar Gaonkar
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
| | - Indranil Mukherjee
- Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Hirano 2-509-3, Otsu 520-2113, Shiga, Japan
| | - Darwin Ramteke
- Geological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
| | - Baban S Ingole
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, India
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Ferrando A, Gonzalez E, Franco M, Commendatore M, Nievas M, Militon C, Stora G, Gilbert F, Esteves JL, Cuny P. Oil spill effects on macrofaunal communities and bioturbation of pristine marine sediments (Caleta Valdés, Patagonia, Argentina): experimental evidence of low resistance capacities of benthic systems without history of pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:15294-15306. [PMID: 25647496 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4167-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The Patagonian coast is characterized by the existence of pristine ecosystems which may be particularly sensitive to oil contamination. In this study, a simulated oil spill at acute and chronic input levels was carried out to assess the effects of contamination on the macrobenthic community structure and the bioturbation activity of sediments sampled in Caleta Valdés creek. Superficial sediments were either noncontaminated or contaminated by Escalante crude oil and incubated in the laboratory for 30 days. Oil contamination induced adverse effects on macrobenthic community at both concentrations with, for the highest concentration, a marked decrease of approximately 40 and 55 % of density and specific richness, respectively. Besides the disappearance of sensitive species, some other species like Oligochaeta sp. 1, Paranebalia sp., and Ostracoda sp. 2 species have a higher resistance to oil contamination. Sediment reworking activity was also affected by oil addition. At the highest level of contamination, nearly no activity was observed due to the high mortality of macroorganisms. The results strongly suggest that an oil spill in this protected marine area with no previous history of contamination would have a deep impact on the non-adapted macrobenthic community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina Ferrando
- Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT - CONICET), Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina.
| | - Emilia Gonzalez
- Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Bvd. Brown 3000, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina
| | - Marcos Franco
- Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT - CONICET), Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina
- Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Chubut, Av. del Trabajo 1536, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina
| | - Marta Commendatore
- Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT - CONICET), Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina
| | - Marina Nievas
- Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT - CONICET), Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina
- Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Chubut, Av. del Trabajo 1536, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina
| | - Cécile Militon
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Université de Toulon, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, 13288, France
| | - Georges Stora
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Université de Toulon, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, 13288, France
| | - Franck Gilbert
- Université de Toulouse, INP, UPS, EcoLab (Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse, France
- CNRS; EcoLab, Toulouse, 31062, France
| | - José Luis Esteves
- Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT - CONICET), Bvd. Brown 2915, Puerto Madryn, 9120, Argentina
| | - Philippe Cuny
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, Université de Toulon, IRD, MIO UM 110, Marseille, 13288, France
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30
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Aguado-Giménez F, Gairín JI, Martinez-Garcia E, Fernandez-Gonzalez V, Ballester Moltó M, Cerezo-Valverde J, Sanchez-Jerez P. Application of "taxocene surrogation" and "taxonomic sufficiency" concepts to fish farming environmental monitoring. Comparison of BOPA index versus polychaete assemblage structure. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 103:27-35. [PMID: 25460059 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Revised: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
"Taxocene surrogation" and "taxonomic sufficiency" concepts were applied to the monitoring of soft bottoms macrobenthic assemblages influenced by fish farming following two approaches. Polychaete assemblage evaluation through multivariate analysis and the benthic index BOPA were compared. Six fish farms along the Spanish Mediterranean coast were monitored. Polychaete assemblage provided a suitable picture of the impact gradient, being correlated with total free sulphides. BOPA did not support the impact gradient described by the polychaete assemblage, providing erroneous categorizations. The inclusion of several polychaete families, which were locally identified as indicative of affection to recalculate BOPA, resulted in an improved diagnosis and correlation with the impact gradient. Nevertheless, frequent misclassifications occurred. These results suggest that the structure of polychaete families, sulphides and granulometry conform an appropriate strategy for fish farming monitoring. Biotic indices need to be specifically designed for concrete activities, and regionally validated, because of the environmental plasticity of benthic invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Aguado-Giménez
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDA), Estación de Acuicultura Marina, Puerto de San Pedro del Pinatar, 30740, Murcia, Spain.
| | - J I Gairín
- IRTA Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Ctra, De Poblenou Km 5.5, 43450, Sant Carlos de la Rápita, Tarragona, Spain
| | - E Martinez-Garcia
- Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Universidad de Alicante, Ap. 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain
| | - V Fernandez-Gonzalez
- Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Universidad de Alicante, Ap. 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain
| | - M Ballester Moltó
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDA), Estación de Acuicultura Marina, Puerto de San Pedro del Pinatar, 30740, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Cerezo-Valverde
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDA), Estación de Acuicultura Marina, Puerto de San Pedro del Pinatar, 30740, Murcia, Spain
| | - P Sanchez-Jerez
- Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Universidad de Alicante, Ap. 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain
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Cabral-Oliveira J, Bevilacqua S, Terlizzi A, Pardal M. Are eulittoral assemblages suitable for detecting the effects of sewage discharges in Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal areas? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2014.947336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Spagnolo A, Punzo E, Santelli A, Scarcella G, Strafella P, Grati F, Fabi G. Offshore platforms: comparison of five benthic indicators for assessing the macrozoobenthic stress levels. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 82:55-65. [PMID: 24708896 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.03.023] [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: 10/11/2013] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Within the European Water Framework Directive, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the sensitivity/robustness of a variety of indices in relation to natural or anthropogenic disturbance events. However, these indices have rarely been applied to verify the impacts of disturbances in offshore environments, though the Marine Strategy Framework Directive recommends their use for assessing benthic community conditions and functionality. The aim of this paper was to determine which biotic indicator performed the best for detecting the impacts of offshore structures on benthic populations in the Adriatic Sea. The impacts of four rigs were investigated six months after their installation, and the H', AMBI, m-AMBI, BENTIX, and BOPA indices were assessed. Although these five indices delivered some contradictory results because of the differences in their structure and discrepancies in their assignment of species sensitivity, the BENTIX, H' and BOPA indices appear to evaluate stress levels better than the AMBI and m-AMBI indices, which tend to provide results that are slightly overly optimistic.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Spagnolo
- National Council of Researches - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), L.go Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
| | - E Punzo
- National Council of Researches - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), L.go Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
| | - A Santelli
- National Council of Researches - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), L.go Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
| | - G Scarcella
- National Council of Researches - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), L.go Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
| | - P Strafella
- National Council of Researches - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), L.go Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
| | - F Grati
- National Council of Researches - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), L.go Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
| | - G Fabi
- National Council of Researches - Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR-ISMAR), L.go Fiera della Pesca, 60125 Ancona, Italy.
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Zettler ML, Proffitt CE, Darr A, Degraer S, Devriese L, Greathead C, Kotta J, Magni P, Martin G, Reiss H, Speybroeck J, Tagliapietra D, Van Hoey G, Ysebaert T. On the myths of indicator species: issues and further consideration in the use of static concepts for ecological applications. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78219. [PMID: 24147123 PMCID: PMC3797757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of static indicator species, in which species are expected to have a similar sensitivity or tolerance to either natural or human-induced stressors, does not account for possible shifts in tolerance along natural environmental gradients and between biogeographic regions. Their indicative value may therefore be considered at least questionable. In this paper we demonstrate how species responses (i.e. abundance) to changes in sediment grain size and organic matter (OM) alter along a salinity gradient and conclude with a plea for prudency when interpreting static indicator-based quality indices. Six model species (three polychaetes, one amphipod and two bivalves) from the North Sea, Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea region were selected. Our study demonstrated that there were no generic relationships between environment and biota and half of the studied species showed different responses in different seas. Consequently, the following points have to be carefully considered when applying static indicator-based quality indices: (1) species tolerances and preferences may change along environmental gradients and between different biogeographic regions, (2) as environment modifies species autecology, there is a need to adjust indicator species lists along major environmental gradients and (3) there is a risk of including sibling or cryptic species in calculating the index value of a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L. Zettler
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - C. Edward Proffitt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Alexander Darr
- Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany
| | - Steven Degraer
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Marine Ecosystem Management Section, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lisa Devriese
- Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Bio-Environmental Research, Oostende, Belgium
| | - Clare Greathead
- Marine Scotland Science Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Jonne Kotta
- Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Paolo Magni
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (CNR-IAMC), Oristano, Italy
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), Venezia, Italy
| | - Georg Martin
- Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Henning Reiss
- University of Nordland, Faculty of Biosciences, Aquaculture, Bodø, Norway
- Senckenberg am Meer, Marine Research Department, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | - Davide Tagliapietra
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine (CNR-ISMAR), Venezia, Italy
| | - Gert Van Hoey
- Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Bio-Environmental Research, Oostende, Belgium
| | - Tom Ysebaert
- Netherlands Institute of Sea Research (NIOZ), Yerseke, The Netherlands
- Wageningen University, Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES), Yerseke, The Netherlands
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Bevilacqua S, Claudet J, Terlizzi A. Best Practicable Aggregation of Species: a step forward for species surrogacy in environmental assessment and monitoring. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:3780-93. [PMID: 24198939 PMCID: PMC3810874 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The available taxonomic expertise and knowledge of species is still inadequate to cope with the urgent need for cost-effective methods to quantifying community response to natural and anthropogenic drivers of change. So far, the mainstream approach to overcome these impediments has focused on using higher taxa as surrogates for species. However, the use of such taxonomic surrogates often limits inferences about the causality of community patterns, which in turn is essential for effective environmental management strategies. Here, we propose an alternative approach to species surrogacy, the “Best Practicable Aggregation of Species” (BestAgg), in which surrogates exulate from fixed taxonomic schemes. The approach uses null models from random aggregations of species to minimizing the number of surrogates without causing significant losses of information on community patterns. Surrogate types are then selected in order to maximize ecological information. We applied the approach to real case studies on natural and human-driven gradients from marine benthic communities. Outcomes from BestAgg were also compared with those obtained using classic taxonomic surrogates. Results showed that BestAgg surrogates are effective in detecting community changes. In contrast to classic taxonomic surrogates, BestAgg surrogates allow retaining significantly higher information on species-level community patterns than what is expected to occur by chance and a potential time saving during sample processing up to 25% higher. Our findings showed that BestAgg surrogates from a pilot study could be used successfully in similar environmental investigations in the same area, or for subsequent long-term monitoring programs. BestAgg is virtually applicable to any environmental context, allowing exploiting multiple surrogacy schemes beyond stagnant perspectives strictly relying on taxonomic relatedness among species. This prerogative is crucial to extend the concept of species surrogacy to ecological traits of species, thus leading to ecologically meaningful surrogates that, while cost effective in reflecting community patterns, may also contribute to unveil underlying processes. A specific R code for BestAgg is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislao Bevilacqua
- Laboratory of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento 73100, Lecce, Italy
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Albano MJ, da Cunha Lana P, Bremec C, Elías R, Martins CC, Venturini N, Muniz P, Rivero S, Vallarino EA, Obenat S. Macrobenthos and multi-molecular markers as indicators of environmental contamination in a South American port (Mar del Plata, Southwest Atlantic). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2013; 73:102-114. [PMID: 23790447 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated benthic habitat quality along a presumed contamination gradient in the Mar del Plata port (Southwestern Atlantic) by coupling biological and chemical proxies in a multidisciplinary approach. Organic matter and photosynthetic pigment contents were higher in silty-clay bottoms of the inner port sites. Levels of all fecal steroids decreased from the inner sites to the port inlet. High concentrations of coprostanol in the inner sites seemed to derive from a permanent population of sea lions rather than from sewage outfalls due to coprostanol/epicoprostanol ratio (IV) values <2.5. PAHs levels were also higher in the inner sector, related to both biomass combustion and petroleum combustion associated to local marine traffic. High disturbance and low ecological status were reflected in low benthic diversity and high AMBI values in the inner sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano J Albano
- Laboratorio de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Funes 3350, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina.
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Egres AG, Martins CC, Oliveira VMD, Lana PDC. Effects of an experimental in situ diesel oil spill on the benthic community of unvegetated tidal flats in a subtropical estuary (Paranaguá Bay, Brazil). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2012; 64:2681-2691. [PMID: 23137553 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2012] [Revised: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The effects of diesel oil on benthic associations from unvegetated tidal flats in a subtropical estuary were experimentally evaluated using a Multivariate Before and After/Control and Impact Model (M-BACI). Impacted treatments were contrasted with controls in 14 successive periods before and after the oil spill. An acute effect was recorded just after the impact, but the recovery to pre-disturbance population levels was extremely fast. The increase in the total density of the benthic community after the disturbance was the result of an increase in the densities of Heleobia australis, oligochaetes, and ostracods, observed in both impacted and control treatments, as a reflection of background variability and not the presence of the contaminant. The experimental spill had little influence on the biological descriptors of the benthic associations, which were resilient or tolerant to oil disturbance at the temporal (147 days) and spatial (cm²) scales used in the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Gonzalez Egres
- Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Caixa Postal 61, 83255-976 Pontal do Sul, Pontal do Paraná, PR, Brazil.
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The Challenge of Managing Marine Biodiversity: A Practical Toolkit for a Cartographic, Territorial Approach. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2012. [DOI: 10.3390/d4040419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Bevilacqua S, Terlizzi A, Claudet J, Fraschetti S, Boero F. Taxonomic relatedness does not matter for species surrogacy in the assessment of community responses to environmental drivers. J Appl Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.02096.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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40
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Andrade H, Renaud PE. Polychaete/amphipod ratio as an indicator of environmental impact related to offshore oil and gas production along the Norwegian continental shelf. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2011; 62:2836-2844. [PMID: 22000480 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2011] [Revised: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Benthic faunal data is regularly collected worldwide to assess the ecological quality of marine environments. Recently, there has been renewed interest in developing biological indices able to identify environmental status and potential anthropogenic impacts. In this paper we evaluate the performance of a general polychaete/amphipod ratio along the Norwegian continental shelf as an environmental indicator for offshore oil and gas impacts. Two main trends are apparent: first, a contamination gradient is discernible from where production takes place compared to stations 10,000 m away. Second, the quality of the marine environment has improved over time. These results are consistent with monitoring reports employing a combination of uni- and multi-variate statistics. Thus, we consider this ratio as a relatively simple, useful and potentially cost-effective complement to other more demanding assessment techniques. Because of its strong theoretical basis, it may also be useful for detecting ecological change as a result of other activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Andrade
- Akvaplan-niva, Fram Centre for Climate and the Environment, 9296 Tromsø, Norway.
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Villnäs A, Norkko A. Benthic diversity gradients and shifting baselines: implications for assessing environmental status. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2011; 21:2172-86. [PMID: 21939052 DOI: 10.1890/10-1473.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The increasing pressure on marine biodiversity emphasizes the importance of finding benchmarks against which to assess change. This is, however, a notoriously difficult task in estuarine ecosystems, where environmental gradients are steep, and where benthic biodiversity is highly variable in space and time. Although recent emphasis on diverse, healthy benthic communities in legislative frameworks has increased the number of indices developed for assessing benthic status, there is a lack of quantitative baselines in benthic diversity that would enable comparisons across broad spatial scales, encompassing different environmental settings and bioregions. By taking advantage of long-term monitoring data, spanning hundreds of stations over the past 40 years, we provide a comprehensive analysis of benthic a, beta, and gamma diversity, encompassing the entire' salinity gradient of the open sea areas of the large, brackish-water Baltic Sea. Using a relatively simple measure, average regional diversity, we define area-specific reference conditions and acceptable deviation against which to gauge current conditions in benthic macrofaunal diversity. Results show a severely impaired condition throughout large areas of the Baltic for the assessment period 2001-2006. All ecosystems are plagued by baselines that shift in time and space, and their definition is not trivial, but average regional diversity may offer a transparent way to deal with such changes in low-diversity systems. Identifying baselines will be of increasing importance given the potential of climatic drivers to interact with local anthropogenic stressors to affect patterns of biodiversity. Our analysis provides an evaluation of the current condition in a system that has been heavily influenced by anthropogenic impact and changing oceanographic conditions, and it provides a basis for future impact assessment and ecosystem-based management.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Villnäs
- Marine Research Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, P.O. Box 140, FI-00251 Helsinki, Finland.
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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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Musco L, Mikac B, Tataranni M, Giangrande A, Terlizzi A. The use of coarser taxonomy in the detection of long-term changes in polychaete assemblages. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2011; 71:131-138. [PMID: 21196046 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2010.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Revised: 12/06/2010] [Accepted: 12/08/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Taxonomic Sufficiency (TS) has been proposed as a short-cut method to quantify changes of biological assemblages in environmental monitoring. However, issues about the efficacy of taxonomic surrogates in depicting long-term temporal patterns of marine assemblages are still scant. Here we report on the adoption of TS combined with data transformations to describe patterns of North Adriatic polychaete assemblages through 20 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed large spatial-temporal variation characterizing the assemblages. The efficiency to discriminate between the two research periods (1990-1994 vs. 2004-2008) was reduced when data were analyzed at family and order level leading to misinterpreting the sources of assemblage variation. Further information was lost with data transforms. Families may represent appropriate assemblages' descriptors in long-term monitoring, but using TS coupled with data transformations could lead to hazardous loss of information. We suggest that periodical analysis at fine taxonomic level should be routinely alternated to long-term monitoring based on TS in order to check its effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Musco
- Laboratory of Zoology and Marine Biology, DiSTeBA, University of Salento, CoNISMa, Via Provinciale Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
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Grimes S, Ruellet T, Dauvin JC, Boutiba Z. Ecological Quality Status of the soft-bottom communities on the Algerian coast: general patterns and diagnosis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2010; 60:1969-1977. [PMID: 20825952 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2009] [Revised: 07/26/2010] [Accepted: 07/29/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Between 1995 and 2001, the soft-bottom communities along the 1180 km of the Algerian coast were sampled in nine gulfs and 12 harbours, providing a total of 655 samples. Eight macrozoobenthos-based biotic indices (S, N, H', BQI, AMBI, BENTIX, BO2A and ITI) were selected to describe the general patterns of the coastal water quality status and to establish a quality diagnosis for the different zones subjected to anthropogenic pressure (e.g., harbour construction, industrial and urban pollution). Reference values were determined for each of the eight indices selected by analyzing the indices' parameter distribution. The Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) was estimated for each index, resulting in an EQR Mean Score and an EQR Bad Score. From these EQR, we defined an EQS for each sample. The agreement between these EQS was analysed using the Kappa method in order to propose a survey strategy for the Algerian coastal waters that would take into account the soft-bottom biological compartment. The results clearly indicate that high and good quality assessments are prevalent in the gulfs, while quality assessments in harbours vary greatly from bad to good. The effect of pollution observed in the harbours can be classified in two main groups, according to when they were constructed and their relative degree of openness to the sea, which permits better water circulation and probably dilutes the pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Grimes
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences de la Mer et de l'Aménagement du Littoral (ESSMAL), BP, 19, Campus Universitaire de Dely Brahim, Bois des Cars, Alger, Algeria
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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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