1
|
Barnes RSK. Do different sympatric seagrasses support macrobenthic faunas of differing composition, abundance, biodiversity or patchiness? Mar Environ Res 2020; 160:104983. [PMID: 32907721 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Intertidal macrobenthic assemblages associated with monospecific areas of different sympatric though not syntopic seagrasses [Cymodocea, Halodule, Zostera and Halophila] were investigated in Moreton Bay across a continuous <0.12 ha seagrass area with minimal potentially-confounding environmental variables. Results indicated patterns of unchanging faunal metrics across seagrass types (abundance, richness, diversity, evenness, taxonomic distinctness, and patchiness) but variation in relative proportions of dominant taxa, particularly microgastropods (abundant in Zostera, insignificant in Cymodocea and Halodule). Although assemblage composition varied, faunal dissimilarities (except with Zostera) were very low and of similar magnitudes within and between different 'host' seagrasses. This suggests that such macroecological faunal characteristics are not consequent on the precise local ecosystem engineer but largely reflect those of a common pool of locally available species, so that the differences in animal abundance and biodiversity described in some studies relate not directly to features inherent in the different seagrasses, but to associated habitat variables.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R S K Barnes
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Marine Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Queensland, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
D'Alessandro M, Esposito V, Porporato EMD, Berto D, Renzi M, Giacobbe S, Scotti G, Consoli P, Valastro G, Andaloro F, Romeo T. Relationships between plastic litter and chemical pollutants on benthic biodiversity. Environ Pollut 2018; 242:1546-1556. [PMID: 30145518 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Five Descriptors (D) of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD): marine litter (D10), non-indigenous species (D2) and organic and inorganic pollutants (D8), were estimated in a coastal area of GSA 16 (Augusta harbour, Central Mediterranean Sea) in order to study their effects on the biodiversity (D1) of the benthic community D6) and to improve data for the MSFD. Investigation of plastic debris had led to the identification of 38 fragments divided into four categories, among which microplastics resulted as the most abundant. Six non-indigenous species, belonging to Polychaeta (Kirkegaardia dorsobranchialis, Notomastus aberans, Pista unibranchia, Pseudonereis anomala, Branchiomma bairdi) and Mollusca (Brachidontes pharaonis) were found. Biodiversity and benthic indices suggested a generalised, slightly disturbed ecological status. Anthracene, Zinc and Chrome were the most abundant chemical compounds in analysed sediments. Significant correlations were found between the abundance of trace elements vs biotic indices and between plastic debris vs biodiversity and benthic indices. This study represents the first report about the abundance of plastic debris and its relationship to contaminants and infauna in Augusta harbour. Our results can provide useful information for national and international laws and directives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela D'Alessandro
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy.
| | - Valentina Esposito
- OGS National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics, via Auguste Piccard, 34151, Trieste, TS, Italy
| | - Erika M D Porporato
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155 -30170 Venezia, Mestre, Italy
| | - Daniela Berto
- ISPRA Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Laboratory of Chioggia, Italy
| | - Monia Renzi
- Bioscience Research Center, Via Aurelia Vecchia 32, 58015, Orbetello, Italy
| | - Salvatore Giacobbe
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres, 31-98166 S. Agata, Messina, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Scotti
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy
| | - Pierpaolo Consoli
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Gaetano Valastro
- Regional Agency for the Environmental Protection, ARPA, Siracusa, Italy
| | - Franco Andaloro
- ISPRA sts Palermo, Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo n. 4521 (ex complesso Roosevelt), Località Addaura, 90149, Palermo, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Romeo
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA via dei Mille 46, 98057, Milazzo, ME, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn, Villa Comunale 1, 80121, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|