Anthropogenic pollutant-driven geographical distribution of mesozooplankton communities in estuarine areas of the Bohai Sea, China

Abstract

Mesozooplankton communities in marine ecosystems are mainly influenced by both anthropogenic pollutants (e.g. nutrients and heavy metals) and natural variables (e.g. temperature, salinity and geographic distance). To achieve a deeper understanding of the effects of anthropogenic pollutants on mesozooplankton communities, we analyzed the community structure of mesozooplankton from 91 stations representing five typical estuarine regions in the Bohai Sea and assessed the relative importance of anthropogenic pollutants and natural variables by using multiple statistical approaches. Cd was identified as the leading pollutant for observed community variation among the five regions, followed by NH 4 -N and COD. Redundancy analysis (RDA) model demonstrated that mesozooplankton communities were largely determined by both anthropogenic pollutants and natural variables, and the indicator species of mesozooplankton also varied when responding to different factors. Variance partitioning analysis showed both anthropogenic pollutants and natural variables posed significant influences (ANOVA, P < 0.05) on the mesozooplankton community structure, but the explanatory power of anthropogenic pollutants overrode the natural variables. These observations highlighted the importance of anthropogenic pollutants in the shifts of zooplankton structures among different regions. Our results obtained in this study provided new insights into the mechanism of the influence of anthropogenic pollutants on mesozooplankton communities in estuarine areas.

Trace metal bioaccumulation in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Liaodong Bay (Bohai Sea, China)

“…In recent decades, serious environmental pollution has resulted from the rapid economic and industrial development of China’s coastal areas. A large amount of trace metals such as cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) are released into the marine environment, all of which bioaccumulate in seafood and pose a serious human health risk (Li et al 2018 ; Zhang et al 2016 ; Gao et al 2019 ). Liaodong Bay is a semi-enclosed water body located in the northern region of the Bohai Sea, which is impacted by trace metal pollution derived from several industrial and agricultural activities along its coast.…”

Assessment of the Ecological Status of Rongjiang Estuary (China) Under Human Pressure, Using Biotic Indices Based on Benthic Macroinvertebrates

“…Estuaries are transitional zones between rivers and oceans and are characterized by complex hydrodynamics and chemical conditions (Van der Linden et al, 2017); they are also some of the most anthropogenically disturbed aquatic systems and are sensitive to environmental changes (Wetzel et al, 2012;Gao et al, 2019;Hillman et al, 2020). High variability in this physicochemical has a substantial effect on biological communities, and only a few highly dominant species are capable of thriving in such environments (Elliott and Quintino 2007).…”

“…With their complex hydrodynamics, estuaries have been important areas for human settlement, and they also represent some of the most productive natural ecosystems on Earth (Costanza et al, 1997;Lotze et al, 2006;van der Linden et al, 2012). Their health is key to the development of human society, but anthropogenic and natural stressors have increased estuarine ecosystem deterioration and biodiversity loss (Barbier et al, 2011;Gao et al, 2019;Hillman et al, 2020;Spreitzenbarth and Jeffs, 2021). For example, many anthropogenic pollutants such as dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) can lead to eutrophication, which decrease the survival of sensitive species, reduces species diversity, and simplifies food webs (Alexander et al, 2017;Gao et al, 2019;Ji et al, 2020).…”

“…Their health is key to the development of human society, but anthropogenic and natural stressors have increased estuarine ecosystem deterioration and biodiversity loss (Barbier et al, 2011;Gao et al, 2019;Hillman et al, 2020;Spreitzenbarth and Jeffs, 2021). For example, many anthropogenic pollutants such as dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) can lead to eutrophication, which decrease the survival of sensitive species, reduces species diversity, and simplifies food webs (Alexander et al, 2017;Gao et al, 2019;Ji et al, 2020). In addition, high variability in the natural environment (e.g.…”

Comparative metagenomics reveals the microbial diversity and metabolic potentials in the sediments and surrounding seawaters of Qinhuangdao mariculture area

“…Bohai Sea is located in Northeast China and has been influenced by anthropogenic factors in recent years [23,24]. Previous studies revealed that the pollution in Bohai Sea is serious in coastal areas and that situation can be worse if no protection procedures are implemented [25].…”