Analysis of macrobenthic and meiobenthic community structure in relation to pollution and disturbance in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda

Warwick, R.M.; Platt, Howard M.; Clarke, K.R.; Agard, John; Gobin, Judith

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(90)90180-k

Cited by 242 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…They perhaps could have more direct effects on the predators or feeding competitors of nematodes, such as predatory meiofauna and juvenile and adult macrofauna, again either through predation (Brissopsis lyrifera only) or mortality caused by sediment disturbance. Macrofauna may be more sensitive than meiofauna to sediment disturbance , Warwick et al 1990b due to decreased sediment stability, increased sediment resuspension and physical damage to external structures. The macrofauna communities did change in response to the 3 macrofaunal test species, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of biological disturbance on diversity and structure of meiobenthic nematode communities

Austen¹,

Widdicombe²,

Villano-Pitacco³

1998

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Benthic mesocosm experiments have shown that subtidal macrofauna species with contrasting feedlng behaviour and mobility can alter the structure of natural subtidal meiobenthic nematode assemblages. Test macrofauna species were the bivalves Nuculoma tenuis (subsurface-deposit feeder) and Abra alba (surface-deposiWsuspension feeder) at 3 different densities and the heart urchin Brissopsis lyrifera (subsurface burrowing deposit feeder) at a single density. a and P nematode diversity were affected by disturbance of different intensities in the bivalve treatments in a way that is consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis regardless of type of disturbance. These measures of community structure did not differentiate between contrasting types of disturbance. Multivariate community analysis indicated that the species response in the assemblage was more sensitive to the type of disturbance than the intensity of disturbance. Differential responses of the nematode species did not reflect their depth distribution in natural field sediment and the likely depth at which the test macrofauna species were active. Nor was the response simply a predator-prey interaction with certain species targeted by the predator; the interactions appear to be more complex. Our experimental results suggest that patches of sediment which are dominated by hlgh abundances or biomass of one or a few species, a situat~on which is encountered in the field, are important in maintaining regional diversity. These patches will create a heterogeneous mosaic of communities with different diversities and different species compositions

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of biological disturbance on diversity and structure of meiobenthic nematode communities

Austen¹,

Widdicombe²,

Villano-Pitacco³

1998

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Macrobenthos is a useful descriptor of the environment, which integrates both changes and conditions over a period of time rather than just reflecting those at the sampling time (Warwick et al, 1990). Environmental disturbances may cause structural changes in benthic assemblages, which influence species diversity (Gray and Pearson, 1982;Rygg, 1985), due to different species' stress tolerances (Dauer et al, 1993).…”

Section: Resumen: Factores De Stress Que Afectan a Las Comunidades Mamentioning

confidence: 99%

Stressors affecting the macrobenthic community in Rapallo Harbour (Ligurian Sea, Italy)

Harriague¹,

Misic²,

Petrillo³

et al. 2007

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: An annual survey was carried out in Rapallo Harbour (Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean) to study the main stressors affecting the macrobenthic communities. The harbour was characterised by a relevant organic enrichment (between 51.9 mg g -1 and 109.6 mg g -1 ), which did not affect the water column oxygenation, and low but detectable heavy-metal contamination (on average Cu=135.0 μg g -1 and V=23.8 μg g -1 ). The seasonal changes in the heavy metal concentrations suggested a significant increase in tourist activities (i.e. boat movements) during summer and autumn. In the inner, more protected sampling site, the harbour structures and the vessel movements increased both organic enrichment and sediment instability, resulting in macrobenthic communities dominated by indicator species associated with these stressors. In addition, during summer and autumn, despite a relevant chlorophyll-a flux to the sediment, the settling material was dominated by phaeopigments and refractory proteins, which reduced its trophic value for benthic consumers. In the outer part of the harbour the main stressor was a polluted freshwater inflow, as indicated by the dominance of indicator species such as Capitella spp. (on average 79.5%), Neanthes caudata, Malacoceros girardi and Diopatra neapolitana.

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“…The highly labour-intensive methods of identifying meiofauna to species level not only require a great deal of time and expertise, but may be too sensitive (Gee et al 1992) as the natural fluctuations in meiofaunal species density and distribution can mask the larger impacts of unnatural events (Warwick and Clarke 1993). Furthermore, experiments analysing successively higher taxonomic groups, in both macro-and meiofauna, show disturbance effects to be equally detectable using the highest taxonomic levels Herman and Heip 1988;Warwick 1988;Warwick et al 1990;Warwick and Clarke 1993).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

The meiofaunal community structure of a Mediterranean lagoon (Gialova lagoon, Ionian Sea)

McArthur¹,

Koutsoubas²,

Lampadariou³

et al. 2000

Helgoland Marine Research

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The higher taxonomic structure of a meiofaunal community was investigated in an Eastern Mediterranean lagoon (Gialova lagoon, Ionian Sea). Seven stations were sampled on a seasonal basis during 1995-1996. Stations within the lagoon were found to support a maximum of 14 meiofaunal taxa with densities ranging from 17 to over 2000 individuals per 10 cm 2 . Nematodes were not always the most abundant taxa, although they dominated about half of the total 28 samples. Uni-and multivariate analyses were employed to study the community structure. The distribution pattern of the meiofaunal community varied both across the lagoon and over the seasons. On the basis of the spatial differences a meiofaunal coenocline, correlated with the degree of isolation, was observed, composed of mainly two zones: one defined by the area close to the marine channel and the other the more isolated area in the inner lagoon. Meiofaunal distribution pattern was not clearly correlated to one environmental variable, but rather to many, and spatial and seasonal effects could be seen.

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Analysis of macrobenthic and meiobenthic community structure in relation to pollution and disturbance in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda

Cited by 242 publications

References 19 publications

Effects of biological disturbance on diversity and structure of meiobenthic nematode communities

Effects of biological disturbance on diversity and structure of meiobenthic nematode communities

Stressors affecting the macrobenthic community in Rapallo Harbour (Ligurian Sea, Italy)

The meiofaunal community structure of a Mediterranean lagoon (Gialova lagoon, Ionian Sea)

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