Efecto de los efluentes cloacales sobre el ensamble macrobentónico submareal en un estuario urbano de la Argentina

Abstract

We examined spatial variations in the biological descriptors of macrobenthic assemblage in relation to environmental parameters and metal distribution in the sediments along a channel of Bahía Blanca estuary affected by non-treatment sewage effluents. Along the channel, metal concentration values were higher than those in the internal estuary area, a sector considered as a reference site. The highest values of water turbidity and metal content in sediments were observed in the effluent discharge zone and at the site where sediments from dredging activities were deposited two years ago. The density of macrobenthic assemblages decreased towards the effluent discharge zone, but the richness and diversity reached to minimum values in both disturbed areas. Only two species of polychaetes were associated with these areas: Laeonereis acuta and Aphelochaeta sp.; the former being found in the effluent discharge zone, where Cd and Pb were most abundant, and the latter being the dominant species in the site characterized by dredging material and high concentrations of Cr and Ni. This study is the first approach to explore the impact of anthropogenic activities over the macrobenthic assemblage of the Bahía Blanca estuary, providing background data to use future management decisions.

Histological characterization and morphological alterations in gill and digestive gland in non-native bivalve from the Province of Buenos Aires: spatial and seasonal evaluation

“…1). AP is a protected area located in Bahía Blanca Estuary (BBE) that receives signi cant pressure from ports activities and chemical industries, and it is located next to an oil pumping and shipping plant (Tombesi et al 2018;Quintas et al 2019;Fiori et al 2020). The BBE is a mesotidal coastal plain estuary that extends over approximately 2300 km 2 and is formed by several tidal channels, extensive tidal ats with patches of low salt marshes, and islands (Piccolo et al 2008).…”