Objective selection of sensitive species indicative of pollution-induced change in benthic communities. 2. Data analyses

Pearson, TH; Gray, JS; Johannessen, PJ

doi:10.3354/meps012237

Cited by 96 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Pearson et al 1983), most benthic-pelagic coupling studies have examined infaunal response to organic matter input (i.e. phytodetritus) using community bulk measurements such as oxygen or carbon dioxide exchange (Smith et al 1983, heat or nutrient release (Smith et al 1983) or changes of bacterial biomass (ATP) (Drazen et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial patterns in sedimentary macrofaunal communities on the south coast of Newfoundland in relation to surface oceanography and sediment characteristics

Ramey¹,

Snelgrove²

2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This is the first comprehensive study of the community structure and spatial distribution of macrofauna in deep, muddy sediments of Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, and the adjacent shelf. The study examines the influence of water column (e.g. chlorophyll a [chl a], temperature and salinity) and sediment characteristics (e.g. grain size, carbon and nitrogen content) on infaunal patterns. Box-core samples were collected at 10 sites in June and July of 1998 from the head of the bay to the edge of the continental shelf. Multivariate analyses of community composition and environmental variation indicated inshore and offshore groupings. Inshore communities had lower species richness, diversity and densities. Fauna living deeper in the sediment were also more abundant in offshore areas. The inshore region was characterised by greater mixed-layer temperatures, higher surface chl a and large amounts of relatively fresh organic carbon (low C/N ratios) in sediments. Within the inshore sites, high levels of organic carbon influenced macrofaunal assemblages that were similar to those characteristic of organic-rich areas. Surface chl a concentration was positively correlated with sedimentary organic carbon, which was the most important predictor of infaunal abundance. At broad scales, surface chl a and sedimentary organic carbon were negatively related to infaunal abundance. Moreover, this pattern was confounded by particularly low densities at 3 inshore sites where organic levels were very high, and elevated densities at 1 productive offshore site. Low densities at these 3 inshore sites may be a result of sulphide production in sediments, or of poor food quality. Broad-scale patterns (inshore vs offshore) of community composition and abundance in Placentia Bay are largely influenced by surface oceanography through production export.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial patterns in sedimentary macrofaunal communities on the south coast of Newfoundland in relation to surface oceanography and sediment characteristics

Ramey¹,

Snelgrove²

2003

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A few tolerant or opportunistic species will become relatively more numerous and will dominate the community, while many less tolerant species will become increasingly rare or disappear. Species which are sensitive to pollution may be used as indicator species (Leppakoski 1975, Pearson & Rosenberg 1978, Pearson et al 1983. Deviation from the log-normal distribution of the number of individuals among species was interpreted by Gray & Mirza (1979) as an effect of environmental disturbance, and was proposed a basis for identifying groups of species potentially indicative of conditions involving organic pollution (Gray & Pearson 1982, Pearson et al 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of sediment copper on benthic fauna

Rygg¹

1985

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

138

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Relations between species diversity in benthic-fauna communities and sediment concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn) and organic matter were tested by correlation and regression analyses on data from Norwegian fjords. Diversity and Cu showed a strong negative correlation. A moderate negative correlation was found for Pb and a weak negative correlation for Zn. Diversity and organic matter showed a moderate negative correlation. The negative correlation between diversity and Cu is interpreted as a cause-effect correlation, with high copper concentrations being toxic to a number of species, thus lowering diversity. Correlation plots were made between Cu and occurrence of selected species. Among the 50 most frequently occurring species, 20 were significantly missing from more copper-polluted (Cu > 200 ppm) stations.

show abstract

“…A stressed community can be identified through a comparison of SAD with a non stressed or equilibrium community. This has been successfully done in marine and benthic animal communities, using SAD such as log series and log normal distributions as reference (Wolff & Alarcon, 1993;Gray, 1981;Pearson et al, 1983;Hagvar, 1994). In the present work, log series model was used to discriminate the community of Galle and Unawatuna from Rumassala.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-level analysis of anthropogenic impacts on rocky shore communities in Sri Lanka

Manage

2008

Nat Prec

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Statement according to § 6 (8) Final Examination Regulations of the University of Bremen for the Master's Degree "ISATEC" I herewith confirm that I have elaborated my diploma thesis titledCommunity-level analysis of anthropogenic impacts on rocky shore communities in Sri Lanka single-handed and without using other resources than mentioned therein. Page | VI ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Place and Date Signature ABSTRACTHuman activities threat seashore communities in many areas of the world and their impacts on coastal ecosystem are a matter of increasing concern. Present study describes the anthropogenic disturbances on the rocky shore community structure by comparing the benthic communities of disturbed and non-disturbed areas in Sri Lanka where rocky shores remain virtually untouched so far by experimental studies. Impacts of human disturbances; trampling, handling and exploitation on the community structure of rocky macro benthic assemblages were tested in high-, mid-and lowintertidal area by stratified sampling method at Rumassala marine sanctuary and adjacent two localities at either side of the marine sanctuary, Galle and Unawatuna. Univariate measures, log series model and multivariate techniques were used to discriminate the communities with respect to the disturbances. Proximity of study localities and indistinguishable physicochemical parameters of sea surface water (temperature, Salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH) indicated that overall environment of the study area was relatively uniform and changes in community structure was due to human disturbances. Human disturbances documented as visitor censuses by transect walk method lead to categorize the Rumassala as non-disturbed, Unawatuna as disturbed with Galle being of moderately disturbance. Community abundance showed a decreasing trend along with increasing disturbances, albeit community biomass, due to opportunistic algae species, increased in parallel to disturbances. Computed Index of disturbance revealed that macrofauna was very sensitive to the disturbances and increased disturbances reduced their competitive pressure on macroalgae, leading to outstanding macroalgal growth. Macroalgal domination in disturbed communities contributed to lessen the heterotrophic dominance in Galle and Unawatuna. 96 macrobenthic taxa were encountered from the study and Species richness, Shannon and Fisher's diversity index showed decreasing trend with increasing disturbances. Moreover, initial rising slope of species accumulation curves for three communities indicated that community evenness was low in disturbed communities. The community compositions from dominant conservative species to fast growing opportunistic species were well described by the log series model, showing left skewed distribution. The SIMPER analysis further confirmed that most biomass dominant species in stress status were the opportunistic species such as Valoniopsis pachynema, Gracilari...

show abstract

Objective selection of sensitive species indicative of pollution-induced change in benthic communities. 2. Data analyses

Cited by 96 publications

References 8 publications

Spatial patterns in sedimentary macrofaunal communities on the south coast of Newfoundland in relation to surface oceanography and sediment characteristics

Spatial patterns in sedimentary macrofaunal communities on the south coast of Newfoundland in relation to surface oceanography and sediment characteristics

Effect of sediment copper on benthic fauna

Community-level analysis of anthropogenic impacts on rocky shore communities in Sri Lanka

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About