Development of macrofaunal communities on dredged material used for mudflat enhancement: a comparison of three beneficial use schemes after one year

In recent years, dredged material has become regarded as a potential resource and used to create and/or improve intertidal habitats ('beneficial use' schemes). This paper presents the results of a sampling programme to investigate the short-term macrofaunal recovery of three beneficial use schemes in south-east England in terms of species and functional diversity. Environmental parameters (sediment redox potential, and water, organic carbon and silt/clay contents) and univariate community attributes (total individuals and species, diversity, evenness and biomass) at the recharge sites had attained reference levels at two schemes while assemblages differed significantly in terms of species composition at all three schemes. While trophic group proportionality had re-established at one scheme, an increased grazer dominance was apparent at another while the proportion of sub-surface deposit feeders decreased at the third. Total individuals and species number of the developing communities were negatively correlated with sediment redox potential at 4 cm and % silt/clay, respectively. The implications of these results for monitoring the recovery of future fine-grained beneficial use schemes are discussed.     

2012年夏季三江平原湿地抚远地区浮游植物群落结构及多样性

2012年6月(夏季)对三江平原湿地抚远地区水域的浮游植物进行调查,设置了10个采样点,经鉴定共有浮游植物262个分类单元,包括239种19变种4变型,隶属于7门9纲22目32科73属.通过对浮游植物群落结构的初步分析,得出三江平原湿地抚远地区水域浮游植物群落结构组成以绿藻门、硅藻门、裸藻门为主,种类数为绿藻门(42.6％)＞硅藻门(22.8％)＞裸藻门(20.9％),细胞密度在3.88×104～278.07×104cells/L之间.聚类分析结果显示,可以将10个采样点分为两组,即农场区5个样点为一组,非农场区5个样点为另一组,两大区域的浮游植物群落结构差异明显,水体类型及生态环境的不同是其存在差异的主要原因.浮游植物多样性指数相对较为一致,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数均在2左右,Margalef丰富度指数均大于3,Pielou均匀度指数在0.3 ～0.5之间.综合群落结构以及多样性分析表明,三江平原湿地抚远地区水域浮游植物物种丰富度较高,多样性良好.     

基于多维度指数的雅鲁藏布江鱼类多样性评价及群落构建过程分析

雅鲁藏布江是我国西藏地区最大的河流,孕育着独特的水生生物资源。近年来随着人类活动的干扰与河流开发的推进,亟待对该流域水生生物多样性进行全面调查评估。本研究基于雅鲁藏布江全流域的鱼类资源调查数据,整合物种多样性、功能多样性和系统发育多样性3个维度12项指数,对该流域鱼类多样性进行评价分析。结果显示,24个调查样点中共采集到37种鱼类,隶属于3目7科24属;其中土著鱼类27种,外来鱼类10种;鲤形目鲤科鱼类为优势类群。基于Bray-Curtis相异度的层次聚类可将雅鲁藏布江鱼类群落划分为4组,表现为帕隆藏布汇口以上/以下江段及两个江段内干支流间存在较大差异,这与区域生物地理学过程及河流环境梯度密切相关。利用12项多样性指数对各组群的鱼类多样性进行评估,结果表明,除Simpson多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数、平均配对种间系统发育距离指数和平均最近种间系统发育距离(MNTD)指数外,其他指数检测到组间的显著性差异。不同多样性指数之间的相关关系表现各异:与丰富度相关的多项指数间存在显著或极显著的正相关,功能离散度指数和MNTD指数与其他指数间多存在显著或极显著的负相关,表明不同类别的多样性指数各自具有独特的指示价值。基于群落功能性状结构和系统发育结构的检验结果显示,大多数样点驱动鱼类群落聚合的过程为种间竞争排斥,推测与雅鲁藏布江水体营养贫瘠、食物来源稀缺导致的种间营养竞争关系紧张有关。本文整合多维度多样性指数对雅鲁藏布江流域鱼类多样性及群落构建过程进行探究,以期为该流域鱼类资源保护和管理提供科学依据,也为应用多维度指数评价淡水鱼类多样性提供参考借鉴。     

Status of macrobenthic community of Manifa-Tanajib Bay System of Saudi Arabia based on a once-off sampling event

Shallow water bays located in the western Arabian Gulf experience harsh environmental conditions. Some of these bays, including Manifa-Tanajib Bay System (MTBS), were also exposed to the 1991 oil pollution event. This study investigates the status of the macrobenthos in MTBS during 2006. This bay system is characterized by very shallow inner bays with elevated salinity and temperature compared to the rest of the bay area. As a result mainly of the hyper salinity, the inner bay communities are distinct from the outer bay communities. Overall, fairly high species richness with several rare species was observed. High Shannon-Wiener diversity values and ABC plots indicated the healthy status of the polychaete communities, while BOPA index indicated slightly polluted status in 20% of the stations. The oil sensitive amphipods were not completely re-colonized in 20% of the stations, even after 15 years of recovery from the 1991 oil spill.     

Effects of industrial outfalls on tropical macrobenthic sediment communities in Reunion Island (Southwest Indian Ocean)

Temporal changes in the composition of soft bottom macrobenthic assemblages at Reunion Island (Southwest Indian Ocean) were studied in the context of a long-term environmental monitoring programme studying the impacts of effluents of industrial sugar cane refineries that are transferred to shallow and deep coastal environments by different pathways: surface discharge and deep underground injection. Seven stations (between 20 and 160 m depth) were surveyed between 1994 and 2003 on the industrial zone. One additional station was surveyed on a reference site. Spatio-temporal changes in the composition of macrobenthic communities were assessed using several diversity indices, ABC curves, MDS and associated ANOSIM tests and biotic indices. Among the 171 taxa recorded, polychaetes were dominant (89 species), followed by crustaceans and molluscs. The analysis of spatial changes in the composition of macrobenthos showed the existence of distinct benthic communities along the depth gradient. Temporal changes in macrobenthos composition were most prominent at the shallowest station. They mainly corresponded to the decline of several initially dominant taxa and the increase of the Eunicid polychaete Diopatra cuprea. This station further showed increasing macrofaunal abundance, biomass and sediment organic content over time, concomitant with decreasing sediment grain sizes. In deeper environments, temporal changes were much smaller. Macrofaunal abundance and species richness increased progressively, suggesting a moderate impact on benthic ecosystems resulting from slight enrichments due to effluents rich in organic matter. Our results highlight an original response to disturbance pattern involving opportunistic Eunicidae species (D. cuprea) not previously described. Moreover, they allow for the comparison of the impact on macrofauna caused by industrial effluents exported by two distinct and different pathways in a tropical coastal high-energy marine environment.     

Benthic input rates predict seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) fish farm-induced decline

Fish farms represent a growing source of anthropogenic disturbance to benthic communities, and efficient predictors of such impacts are urgently needed. We explored the effects of fish farm benthic organic and nutrient inputs on the population dynamics of a key seagrass species (Posidonia oceanica) in four Mediterranean deep meadows adjacent to sea bream and sea bass farms. We performed two annual plant censuses on permanent plots at increasing distance from farms and measured benthic sedimentation rates around plots. High shoot mortality rates were recorded near the cages, up to 20 times greater than at control sites. Recruitment rates increased in variability but could not compensate mortality, leading to rapid seagrass decline within the first 100 m from cages. Seagrass mortality increased with total sedimentation rates (K=0.55, p<0.0002), and with organic matter (K=0.50, p=0.001), total nitrogen (K=0.46, p=0.002) and total phosphorus (K=0.56, p<3.10(-5)) inputs. P. oceanica decline accelerated above a phosphorus loading threshold of 50mg m(-2)day(-1). Phosphorus benthic sedimentation rate seems a powerful predictor of seagrass mortality from fish farming. Coupling direct measurements of benthic sedimentation rates with dynamics of key benthic species is proposed as an efficient strategy to predict fish farm impacts to benthic communities.     

Changes associated with Phragmites australis invasion in plant community and soil properties: A study on three invaded communities in a wetland,Victoria, Australia

Phragmites australis invasion is altering plant communities and therefore, soil properties have been changed significantly. This study compared the diversity among three communities in a wetland to assess the impact of invasion by Phragmites and the associated impact on soil properties. Three diversity indices, species richness (S), evenness (E) and Shanon-Weiner index (H) had significantly higher values in uninvaded plots compared to invaded in all the communities. Invaded plots had the lowest diversity, with H = 0 and Simpson’s index (D) = 1, (i.e. they were monospecific). These results support the idea that a reduction in diversity can be expected in wetlands colonized by Phragmites. Phragmites invasion significantly increased soil moisture, EC, phenolics, organic carbon, dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass (C, N, P) with reduction of pH and arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi spore density compared with uninvaded zones. In addition, the study of antifungal phytochemistry of Phragmites elucidated the decrease of the competitive abilities of native plant Melaleuca ericifolia by interfering with formation of mycorrhizal associations and biomass. Our results suggest that Phragmites invasion has caused significant ecological alterations in communities by demonstrating a combined effect to plant diversity and soil variables.     

Concept of planktonic species diversity in small water bodies – a case study of lake Rangasagar (Udaipur: Rajasthan)

The quantitative and qualitative relationships within phyto- and zooplanktonic communities were examined for a period of one year in a small eutrophic lake in Udaipur, through the application of diversity indices. The results revealed that a higher plankton diversity needs not necessarily lead to a greater community diversity or evenness of species diversity. The phytoplankton species diversity was related to nutrients and ambient environmental factors. Within zooplankton groups, the diversity index was found influenced by the evenness and richness of the species. On the other hand, the strong correlation between individual species density and community diversity in the cladocera was influenced by food availability. The total zooplankton diversity was also strongly correlated (P < 0.01) with the number of species and equality. There was no spatial variation in species composition because of smaller spread of the water body. It is felt that the diversity indices could get influenced by the dominance or scarcity of one or more species or communities giving a deceptive picture of planktonic panorama.     

Status of Macrobenthic Community and Its Relationships to Trace Metals and Natural Sediment Characteristics

Laizhou Bay, located in the northwest of Shandong Peninsula, has complex transitional environments between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. In the present study, a total of 122, 131, and 139 species were collected in spring, summer, and autumn 2011, respectively. Species constitutions of macrobenthos were grouped into four phyla, of which annelida were the most abundant phylum, the average biomass proportion of echinodermata was the lowest, and the proportion of important species for mollusca was the highest. The structure of the macrobenthic community showed significant differences between sites, and greater divergence was observed between the third site (S03) and other stations. The ABC plots showed that the biomass curve lay below the abundance curve, and the W‐statistic value was negative. The result of the BOPA index showed that two stations had moderate ecological status in spring and that there were two heavily polluted sites and one moderately polluted site in summer. The BIO‐ENV analyses indicated that the grain‐size fractions together with trace metals (Hg, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cr) could be considered as the major environmental variables influencing the macrobenthic patterns. The results together demonstrated that the macrobenthic communities in Laizhou Bay were negatively affected, perhaps by the tremendous impact of heavy metals in the sediments.     

Effects of mariculture on macrobenthic assemblages in a western mediterranean site

The effects of solid organic wastes from a marine fish farm on sediment was tested using macrobenthic fauna as biological indicators. Impact on benthic fauna was evaluated in the vicinity of a fish farm in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean) between July 2001 and October 2002. Changes in benthic community structure were investigated using multivariate, distributional and univariate analyses (diversity indices, AMBI and M-AMBI). The results showed sharp disturbance of assemblages under the cages and no effects in the area more than 25 m from the cages. Sediment alterations were related to an increase in farmed biomass and its wastes, as well as to low current speed that allowed accumulation of organic matter on the sea floor. It was possible to follow the ecological succession from slightly altered assemblages to heavily polluted ones in the very short period of a single fish fattening cycle (15 months).     

Impact of stress and disturbance factors on the phytoplankton communities in Northeastern Brazil reservoir

The ecology of phytoplankton reservoir communities plays a pivotal role in their management and in the development of inland fisheries in the water scarce semi-arid regions of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. The hydrological conditions characterizing these reservoirs include infrequent rainfall and high evaporative loses. The phytoplankton assemblages in tropical climate are structured primarily on dry and wet cycles, not the annual temperature and light regime. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the ecological aspects of phytoplankton communities from three reservoirs during the period of July 2003–June 2004, which include atypical summer rainfall and reservoir overflow. The environmental data broadly divided into two categories, stress factors and disturbance factors. The stress factors deals with the impact of high particulate organic matter and low dissolved oxygen concentrations and disturbance factors, linked to water level fluctuation through flushing and reservoir drawdown, and these events are associated with the phytoplankton assemblages. Results indicated that the three distinct hydroperiods determined the structure of phytoplankton and chlorophyll levels and limited the presence and relative abundance of cyanobacterial species. Phytoplankton succession accompanied changes in clear and turbid water phase represented by the alternate dominance between diatoms and chlorophytes. Inundation and complete filling of reservoir stimulated “s” and “r” strategists species (<20 um) of unicellular and some colonial members of chlorophytes and cryptomonads in highly turbid water environment, and “c” strategist species in rest of the wet period following disturbance gradients. Statistical analysis elicited a significant relationship between particulate organic matter and relative abundance of smaller chlorophytes, which was deemed as stress factor. The flushing and reservoir drawdown indicate disturbance gradient and as a consequence high diversity. Furthermore, a substantial reduction in chlorophyll levels was registered in turbid water phase is related to the reduction of light penetration and re-suspension of sediments. Considering these results, it can be suggested that the well-managed reservoir drawdown can possibly maintain an environment free of eutrophication and cyanobacterial dominance.     

Polychaetes as indicators of environmental disturbance on subarctic tidal flats, Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory

The polychaetes of the tidal flats near the town of Iqaluit, Baffin Island were analysed along gradients of environmental disturbance resulting from human activity. Sources of environmental disturbance include a sewage lagoon, garbage sites; and an area of the tidal flat that is cleared by bulldozer. Sampling of the tidal flats included 300 biological sediment cores taken from 75 sites along seven transects. Environmental disturbance has resulted in four zones of polychaete communities with increasing distance. The heavily disturbed zone is closest to the disturbances and is devoid of polychaetes. The disturbed zone follows and is characterized by low diversity the result of increased densities of a few opportunistic species such as, Capitella 'capitata' sp. The moderately disturbed zone is characterized by increased species diversity due to organic enrichment from the disturbances. The undisturbed zone, located the furthest from the sources of disturbance, is characterized by moderate levels of diversity compared to the other three zones.     

Colonisation of epilithic diatom population of the River Taff, South Wales, U.K.

1. A light and scanning electron microscopic study of the structure of epilithic diatom communities was carried out at two sites on the River Taff, South Wales, an upstream unpolluted site (Site 1) and a downstream polluted site (Site 2). 2. Community structure at the micro-scale revealed that, although communities at both sites were similar in terms of species present (similarity indices ranging between 0.44 and 0.96), they were very different with respect to their physical structure. 3. The traditional approach in studying epilithic diatom communities ignores information relating to community structure. The combination of light and scanning electron microscopy proved to be most useful for studying the epilithic diatom communities. 4. The examination of community succession on stone substrata showed that communities were highly dynamic on a weekly time scale, which suggests that the “age” of a substratum is a very important determinant of the attaching communities. A change from a prostate, two-dimensional community structure to an erect, three-dimensional community structure, and a shift from the dominance of epilithic diatoms to the dominance of epiphytic diatoms were noted. Such a change was more noticed at the polluted downstream site, possibly due to a higher rate of surface pre-conditioning and biofilm production at this site than at the unpolluted upstream site.     

Biological assessment of the Zayandeh Rud River, Iran, using benthic macroinvertebrates

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities from the middle of Zayandeh Rud River were analyzed monthly during 1 year at 8 stations, in order to assess changes in their diversity and richness in relation to water quality. Two major groups of sites based on similarity between macroinvertebrate communities were identified by cluster analysis. The performances of the original and revised BMWP score systems were assessed by comparing the community structure indices of benthic macroinvertebrates along with physico-chemical parameters of the water. The biotic indices (BMWP, ASPT, revised BMWP and ASPT) showed better correlation with water quality parameters than that of the richness and diversity indices. The revised ASPT had the highest correlation with water quality parameters. It seems that the application of the revised BMWP score system could be useful for assessment of the water quality in Zayandeh Rud River.     

Effects of the closure of a major sewage outfall on sublittoral, soft sediment benthic communities

The present study examines the benthos within western inner Swansea Bay (Wales, UK), for the period before, during and immediately after the cessation of a major, sewage discharge from Mumbles Head. There have been significant improvements in seawater quality and changes in the species composition of the benthic communities following the cessation of the sewage discharge. There has been an increase in the diversity of deposit feeders, especially the amphipods, and a decrease in the diversity of the filter feeders, especially the polychaetes. Changes are not attributable either to sediment organic matter content or to gross changes in sediment type, but are related to the significant reduction in suspended particulate organic material and sewage contaminants discharged to the Bay. A recovery model has been proposed to describe how soft sediment benthic communities in a shallow, sublittoral, high tidal energy environment respond to the abrupt cessation of a major sewage discharge.     

An approach to analyzing spatial patterns of planktonic ciliate communities for monitoring water quality in Jiaozhou Bay, northern China

Spatial patterns of planktonic ciliate communities for assessment of marine environmental status were studied from June 2007 to May 2008 in Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, northern China. Ciliate communities were sampled biweekly at five sampling sites with a spatial gradient of environmental stress. Multivariate/univariate analyses demonstrated that: (1) the planktonic ciliate community structures represented significant differences among the five sites; (2) spatial patterns of the ciliate communities were significantly correlated with environmental variables, especially the nutrients nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) and soluble reactive phosphates (SRP); (3) five dominant species (e.g., Rimostrombidium veniliae, Strombidium capitatum, Mesodinium pupula and Strombidinopsis acutum) were significantly correlated with nitrogen and/or SRP; and (4) both species richness and species diversity indices were correlated with NO₃-N and salinity. These results suggest that planktonic ciliated protozoa might be used as a robust bioindicator of marine water quality.     

Effects of bark accumulation on benthic infauna at a log transfer facility in southeast Alaska

Effects of bark accumulation are examined by comparing macro-infauna (numbers and biomass) at a log transfer facility with those of an adjacent unaffected region. The quantities of some infaunal species (and groups of species) are significantly different in ‘shallow’ vs ‘deep’ water zones, arbitrarily defined as 3–6 and 7–10 m below mean lower low water (MLLW), respectively. Bivalves and polychaetes dominate the fauna of both areas, but are significantly diminished under bark deposits. Results indicate that a complete covering of bark debris can have drastic effects on the structure of benthic communities. In extreme conditions macro-infauna can be virtually eliminated, in less severe instances, deposit feeders replace suspension feeders.     

Goat trampling affects plant establishment,runoff and sediment yields over crusted dunes

Mainly attributed to goat and sheep trampling, the sand dunes at the Israeli and the Egyptian sides of the border present contrasting geomorphological conditions. In an attempt to assess the trampling effect upon vegetation, runoff and sediment yield, two pairs of plots and miniplots (each pair contains a trampled plot and a control) were constructed during 1991 and monitored during 1991–1995. In order to assess the impact on vegetation, three pairs of vegetation plots, subjected to light, medium and heavy trampling, were established during 1993 and monitored. In addition, the effect of the micro structures created by the goat hooves (mounds and depressions) were studied in three pairs of plots subjected to medium trampling during 1993 and monitored during 1993–1996. As far as trampling intensity is concerned, the findings indicate an increase in species diversity, density and biomass from the intact crusted surface to the plots subjected to light and medium trampling with a decrease thereafter at the plots subjected to heavy trampling. As for the micro scale, the findings indicate significantly higher plant biomass for the first 2 years at the hooves‐formed mini mounds and mini depressions in comparison to intact crusted surfaces, with no significant difference during the third year. Significantly lower runoff and sediment yields characterized the trampled plots implying a reduction in water redistribution. The data point to the differential effect that trampling has upon plants and soil. While increasing annual plant growth along the slope, it hinders runoff flow to the footslope, negatively affecting water availability for footslope vegetation. Recovery, as also supported by chlorophyll and microrelief measurements, was scale dependent (attributed to differential supply of aeolian sand) with estimated recovery for the plots and miniplots being 4–5 and 8–10 years, respectively. The data indicate that upon the cessation of grazing and under similar precipitation regime, recovery time of the biocrust in the Sinai sand dunes may be short, within 5–6 years. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of short-term fallowing as a strategy for the management of recurring organic enrichment under salmon cages

Rotation of cages within fish farm leases and the subsequent fallowing of areas of seabed is commonly used to allow recovery of infaunal communities following periods of organic enrichment. To investigate the effect of different background environmental conditions on recovery response, two Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fish farm sites in southeast Tasmania were sampled over two commercial fallowing cycles. Despite similar stocking levels and feed input there were significant differences in the way in which sediment at each farm responded to the cessation of fish stocking. Sediments at both farms showed some improvement in the community structure over a three month fallow period, but the community structure only recovered to that present before stocking not to that at the reference sites. The similarity of the impact sites to the reference sites increased from ca. 25% to 31% at one site and 11% to 27% at the other after fallowing. Rate and extent of recovery were affected by farm location, initial impact of the sediments, and length of fallow period. Initial recovery was faster at the more sheltered site than at the more exposed site, possibly reflecting differences in environmental resilience with the more sheltered location better able to assimilate organic inputs. Accordingly general fallowing management protocols may need to be adapted to reflect differences between sites. The findings of this study suggest that the recovery response of benthic communities can be predicted once baseline conditions are understood.