The Effects of Industrial Pollution on the Development and Succession of Marine Fouling Communities II. Multivariate Analysis of Succession

Abstract. The successional stages of fouling communities from 3 sites located along a pollution gradient within Port Kembla Harbour (Australia) were compared quantitatively with those from Wollongong Harbour, a relatively unpolluted area located close by.
A multivariate classification of the data showed that the development of fouling communities in Port Kembla Harbour was very different from that in Wollongong Harbour, involving different types of species. In addition, the classification identified a secondary pattern in the data which showed that the species composition of the Port Kembla Harbour communities changed with time, independently of any seasonal effects.
A principal coordinate analysis of the data was able to further expand on these findings. It demonstrated that the succession of fouling communities in Port Kembla Harbour involved a process whereby one group of species (ascidians) was gradually replaced through time by a second group of different species (bivalves). In contrast, the communities in Wollongong Harbour were dominated by inhibitory interactions. The succession in this area mainly involved species (particularly bryozoans) which colonised during the initial stages of development and remained in the communities as they continued to develop.
Changes in the succession of fouling communities from Port Kembla Harbour were thought to be due to the loss of pollution sensitive species, such as bryozoans, from the environment. This was not attributed to the acute, toxic effects of the pollutants, but rather to more subtle and indirect effects.     

Marine environmental quality assessment using polychaete taxocene characteristics in Vancouver Harbour

Polychaete taxocene characteristics from seven stations in Vancouver Harbour obtained during the PICES Practical Workshop are presented. Thirty families and 79 polychaete species were identified. Polychaete density ranged from 194.0 individuals m(-2) in Port Moody Arm to 846.0 individuals m(-2) in the Central Harbour, with a mean abundance over the seven stations of 428.9 individuals m(-2). Biomass varied from 3.0 g wet wt. m(-2) to 28.5 g wet wt. m(-2), with a mean biomass for the seven stations of 12.9 g wet wt. m(-2). High species diversity and richness of polychaete taxocene were observed at two stations, the West Vancouver Laboratory in the Outer Harbour and at a far field reference station in Thornborough Cannel. Sediment quality assessment indicated severe adverse effects at two sites in Port Moody Arm, where high concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons and some trace metals were found. A limited number of species, dominance of pollution-tolerant Tharyx multifilis, and the lowest values of polychaete biomass and indices of richness and diversity were detected in Port Moody Arm. Rich species composition and domination of pollution-sensitive species provided evidence of unstressed communities at the far field reference station. Sites in the Outer Harbour, Central Harbour and Indian Arm were characterised by intermediate pollutant exposure.     

Changes in benthic communities along a presumed pollution gradient in Vancouver Harbour

Samples of macrobenthic organisms were obtained at seven stations on a presumed pollution gradient from the head of Vancouver Harbour through to outer Howe Sound. Polychaetes (83 apparent species) and molluscs (43 apparent species) were the most abundant faunal groups numerically (44.8 and 47.9%, respectively). Molluscs accounted for most of the biomass (87.9%). The following univariate and multivariate methods were used to investigate structural changes in the benthic communities: ANOVA, Abundance-Biomass Comparisons and related statistics, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, and the BIOENV procedure. Most of the analyses divided the seven stations into three groups: Port Moody Arm (Inner Harbour): two stations; Inner and Outer Harbour: four stations, and Gibsons (Howe Sound): one station. Further cause-effect investigations are needed to determine the sensitivity to organic pollution of indicator species identified in the survey. However our data correlating benthic community changes to sediment chemistry suggest the inner harbour was dominated by pollution-tolerant species. Depth and sediment grain size were confounding factors for the interpretations.     

汕头港污损生物生态研究

１９９１年６月至１９９２年５月在汕头港进行污损生物挂板实验，同时调查港区浮标，码头和船底的污损生物，调查方法采用国际海洋调查规范。获１１９种生物，试板７２种，浮标和船底７０中，码头５４种，其中，泥藤壶、网纹藤壶、僧帽牡蛎、翡翠胎贝、太平洋侧花海葵、双枝薮枝螅和双节螅的优势种。     

The characteristics of the nematode faunas in subtidal sediments of a large microtidal estuary and nearshore coastal waters differ markedly

The present study examines traditional paradigms regarding the differences between faunas in estuaries vs coastal waters. The ecological characteristics of the free-living nematode faunas of nearshore, subtidal sediments in downstream and upstream areas of the large, microtidal Swan River Estuary are compared with those similarly recorded seasonally in subtidal sediments along an adjacent part of the coast of temperate south-western Australia. Overall, the nematode species richness recorded in the upstream (38) and downstream estuarine areas (58) and from throughout the estuary (61) were substantially less than in marine waters (75). In addition, the value for Simpson’s diversity index was marginally less in the estuary and the dominance of the most abundant species greater. In contrast, the mean nematode species richness and diversity in individual cores followed the reverse trend, reflecting a combination of less variability among the species compositions and far greater densities in the cores from estuarine sediments. Furthermore, the mean density (numbers 10 cm⁻²) was far higher in both upstream (341) and downstream (903) areas of the estuary than in marine waters (87). Although the compositions of the assemblages in upstream and downstream estuarine areas differed markedly from each other at the species, genus and family levels, these differences were less pronounced than those between either of these areas and marine waters. The trophic compositions at the moderately sheltered and fully exposed marine sites differed from that in both areas of the estuary, whereas that at the most sheltered marine site was similar to that in the downstream estuarine area, with both containing substantial proportions of epistrate-grazing species. The variations among the species richness, diversity, densities and taxonomic and trophic compositions of nematode assemblages in the sediments of the two estuarine areas and nearby marine waters appear to reflect differences in 1) salinity regimes, 2) extents of exposure to wave action and its related effects and 3) amounts and types of food available to nematodes.     

洋山港海域大型污损生物生态特点

洋山港是上海国际航运中心的枢纽港。为了解该海域污损生物的群落结构及演变趋势,2009年3月至2010年3月在洋山港海域进行了周年污损生物挂板调查研究。洋山港海域污损生物种类较少,共记录污损生物19种,隶属于5个类群,优势种为僧帽牡蛎(Ostrea cucullata)、网纹纹藤壶(Balanus reliculatus) 、大室膜孔苔虫(Membranipora grandicella)、厦门华藻苔虫(Sinoflustra amoyensis)、双钩楯琥珀苔虫(Aspidelectra bihamata)、中胚花筒螅(Tubularia mesembryanthemum)、曲膝薮枝螅(Obelia geniculata)和亚洲帚毛虫(Sabellaria ishikawai),种类组成以广布种为主,同时部分具有河口低盐种的特征;污损生物的附着高峰期是6—10月份,除冬季月份外,其余月份均有生物附着;受盐度、水流及泥沙含量的影响,洋山港污损生物的生物量变化较大,月板、季板及年板的平均附着生物量分别为9.20,127.20和774.04 g/m2。另外,通过对洋山港海域污损生物周年的物种组成和群落结构变化分析,发现该海域污损生物群落受季节变化和盐度的升高影响较大,群落结构不稳定,物种演替明显。     

In vitro screening for endocrine disruptive activity in selected South African harbours and river mouths

Various waterborne anthropogenic contaminants disrupt the endocrine systems of wildlife and humans, targeting reproductive pathways, among others. Very little is known, however, regarding the occurrence of endocrine disruptive activity in South African freshwater ecosystems, and coastal ecosystems have not been studied in this regard. In a first attempt to investigate endocrine disruptive activity in South African coastal waters, surface water samples collected from harbours, river mouths and estuaries in three metropolitan municipalities, eThekwini (which includes Durban), Nelson Mandela (specifically Port Elizabeth Harbour) and City of Cape Town, were screened for (anti) oestrogenicity and (anti)androgenicity using recombinant yeast bioassays. Moreover, levels of the female hormone 17β-(o)estradiol (E2) were determined in all samples, as well as a selection of hydrocarbons in the eThekwini samples. A high proportion of samples collected from eThekwini were oestrogenic, whereas none from Port Elizabeth Harbour and only a single river mouth sampled in the City of Cape Town were oestrogenic. E2 was detected in all the samples tested, but at higher concentrations at the eThekwini and City of Cape Town localities than Port Elizabeth Harbour. In addition, the recombinant yeast assays revealed that anti-androgenicity was widespread, being detected in the majority of samples screened apart from those representing Port Elizabeth Harbour. Conversely, no anti-oestrogenic or androgenic activity was detected. Anti-androgenicity did not associate with hydrocarbon loads, providing evidence that other anti-androgens were responsible for the observed activity. The present data suggest potential reproductive disruption in marine and estuarine fauna inhabiting the eThekwini and City of Cape Town regions.     

中国近海海区污损生物研究现状及展望

近海海区通常是指离岸3n mile以上或水深超过25m的水域(Relini et al.，1994)；海洋污损生物是海洋环境中栖息或附着在船舶和各种水下人工设施上，对人类经济活动产生不利影响的动物、植物和微生物的总称，它不仅是影响海洋设施安全与使用寿命的重要因素，也是人类开始接触海洋时所关注的问题。本文就污损生物对海洋结构物的影响和我国近海污损生物研究的进展状况、存在问题等方面进行了综合论述，并对未来几年内为研究方向和重点进行了探讨，以期为下一阶段研究工作提供一些具有参考价值的依据和建议。     

宁波港附着生物生态的初步研究

附着生物广泛分布在海洋、港湾、河口从及江河湖泊和水库中的船底、管道和水中一切设施的表面上.国内外对海洋附着生物的生态已做了不少的调查研究工作[3-7],对淡水附着生物生态研究的报导还不多[2].进行淡水或咸淡水的附着生态研究,对于比较研究海洋附着生物是很有意义的;我国有许多河港,所以更必须调查研究这些港湾的附着生物.自1974年3月至1975年2月,在宁波白沙浮码头分表、底两层挂板.这里离海不远,水位和水质都受到涨落潮水的影响.退潮时基本上是余姚和奉化两河流来的淡水,几乎测不出含氯量有显著增加,常年全年大潮含氯量0.10-11.57g/Kg,小潮0.03-0.55g/Kg.水色混浊,呈土黄色,透明度经常在0.1米以下.     

The effects of organic enrichment upon a community of meiobenthic harpacticoid copepods

A nutrient enrichment experiment was conducted on an estuarine intertidal beach. A nutrient suitable for marine heterotrophic bacteria, derived from acid-hydrolysed casein, was applied to areas of sediment at low tide, at two frequencies. At the greater frequency of application the numbers of species of harpacticoid copepod comprising the community increased, as did the logarithmic series index of diversity. Displacement, presumably competitive, of the numerically dominant species by two confamilial species, formerly of less abundance, occurred and resulted in a decrease in the Berger-Parker dominance diversity. As the community converged to an equilibrium, due to the rapid growth rates of two species, it was predicted that the species richness and ecological diversity of the community would decrease, as some species underwent competitive exclusion, and in so doing would raise the dominance diversity. Before harpacticoid copepod communities can be used satisfactorily in biological monitoring programmes more basic research is needed to assess the response of a variety of meiobenthic communities to various loads of organic pollution.     

Macrobenthos monitoring in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt

The biogeography of macrobenthic communities with large-scale differences in species distribution and abundance was studied along the eastern and western coastal regions of the Gulf of Suez to indicate biodiversity of benthos in relation to the prevailing environmental conditions. In general, benthos have a wide variety of species of mainly polychaet worms, crustaceans, bivalves, and other bottom invertebrates living in burrows in/or on the sediment surface. Coastal development clearly affects the ecosystem after the construction of coastal projects. The highest values of benthic diversity, evenness, richness and dominance are found at the Gulf of Suez （WG 1, WG 3）, Ras Gharib （WG 7, WG 8） and Ras Shukier （WG 9a） by contrast to others. The abundance of macrobenthic organsims along the coasts of Gulf of Suez can be arranged in the following sequence： other groups （34%） greater than crustaceans （25%） greater than polychaetes （22%） greater than molluscs （17%） greater than echinoderms （2%）. The biomass of benthic assemblages at different sampling sites can also be ranked as follows： echinoderms （52%） greater than molluscs （27%） greater than crustaceans （16%） greater than polychaetes （2%） greater than other groups （3%）. Some benthic groups or species indicated a distinctive correlation to pollution sources in the marine ecosystem which obviously increased in the coastal areas due to the extension of the coastal development. These activities needed regular information to establish database for the biology and distribution of marine benthic communities. The density and diversity of benthos are significantly affected by eutrophication at Ain Sukhna, whereas the benthos in the open Gulf of Suez do not seem to be adversely affected by pollution.     

Accumulation of periphyton biomass on artificial substrates deployed near a sewage sludge outfall in South Australia

Digested sludge from the Port Adelaide Sewage Treatment Works has been discharged into Gulf St Vincent, a marine embayment in South Australia, since 1978. The outfall was sited in seagrass meadows and four years after it began operating the dominant seagrass species were lost from an area of 365 ha. Discernible effects extended over 1900 ha and the seagrass beds in partially affected areas were characterized by unusually heavy growth of epiphytes. Artificial substrates were used to assess the accumulation of ‘epiphyte’ (periphyton) biomass in areas affected by sludge and at a control site. The greatest accumulation was recorded in the area most affected by sludge, i.e. the area from which all seagrass has been lost. It is suggested that excessive accumulation of epiphytes, resulting from the addition of sludge to the water column, may have contributed to the decline of the original seagrass beds.     

东海污损生物群落研究 Ⅰ.种类组成和分布

对东海污损生物群落进行系统的研究,共发现污损生物３５８种,其中藻类８７种,动物２７１种,主要类群有甲壳动物、软体动物、多毛类和苔藓动物。污损生物种类数呈远岸区多于内湾区多于近岸区多于河口区的趋势。盐度对种类分布的影响最大,从河口区向远岸区,随着盐度的增大,污损生物种类由淡水种向低盐种再向高盐种演替。污损生物种数的季节变化明显,夏季最多,秋季次之,冬、春两季较少,这与水温关系最为密切     

东沙群岛西部海区污损生物研究

海洋污损生物系指海洋环境中附着或栖息在船舶和各种人工设施上、对人类经济活动产生不利影响的动、植物和微生物，是影响海洋设施安全与使用寿命的重要因素之一。根据其形态结构上是否具备石灰质外壳或骨架，可分为硬性污损生物和软性污损生物两种，前者包括双壳类软体动物、无柄蔓足类和苔藓虫等生物，后者则为海藻和水螅等种类。海洋污损生物对大型海洋结构物的危害主要通过增大构件直径和表面粗糙度，增强对波浪和海流的阻力，从而造成结构物静力载荷和动力载荷增加。此外，导管架表面所附着的生物还会妨碍水下作业，甚至损坏潜水设备。 为适应我国海洋石油工业发展的需要，近十多年来科研人员对南海北部近海海区人工设施的污损生物状况进行了系统调查，并陆续发表了有关研究成果(严涛等，1997，1998，1999，2000)。然而，在珠江口东南、东沙群岛以西远离大陆和岛屿的深水海区，有关污损生物资料至今未见报道。本文根据实海调查结果，详细论述了该海区人工设施上的污损生物状况，以期丰富人类的海洋生态学知识，并为该海区海洋结构物的设计、保养和维修提供科学依据。     

Diversity of decapod crustaceans at the interface of unconsolidated seabed areas and rocky shores in tropical/subtropical Brazil

The decapod crustacean assemblages from unconsolidated seabed areas located near rocky shores in the Ubatuba region on the south-east coast of Brazil were analysed by investigating the abundance, richness, diversity and dominance of species. The relationships of the sediment and bottom-water temperature to total species abundance, richness and diversity were also evaluated. Monthly samples were taken from January 1998 through December 1999 at sites in Ubatumirim and Mar Virado. At each locality, three areas were defined as either ‘exposed’, ‘sheltered’ or ‘island’. The highest species abundance was found in the sheltered area of Ubatumirim and the exposed area of Mar Virado, and during autumn. At Ubatumirim, the highest richness occurred in the exposed area and the highest diversity near the island. At Mar Virado, the highest richness and diversity were found near the island. Autumn and winter collections yielded the highest richness but the lowest diversity. The higher diversities, which were measured near the islands and during spring and summer, were consequences of the greater evenness of the data. The areas with the highest diversity also had the most heterogeneous sediment composition, thus reinforcing the hypothesis that areas with more complex substrata support more diverse faunas.     

The benthic communities of the Snorre field in the Northern North Sea (61°30′ N 2°10′ E): 1. The distribution and structure of communities in undisturbed sediments

The fauna of the Snorre oil field is diverse and varies along a 40 m depth gradient across the area. Abundance and species richness increase with increasing depth but diversity is highest in the centre of the gradient. The communities present differ widely from those of the adjacent but shallower Statfjord, Gullfaks and Tordis Fields and from the major communities found throughout much of the northern North Sea, a fact attributable to the greater depth, finer sediments, higher sediment organic levels and position on the western slope of the Norwegian Trench. They have greater affinities with the communities in the Troll Field, 85 km SE on silt/clay sediments in the floor of the trench and the Heidrun Field, situated approximately 390 km N at similar depths and in an area of similar sedimentary composition. However the Snorre communities have a much higher number of suspension feeding and surface deposit feeding organisms than either of these other areas. This might be caused by higher current speeds in the Snorre area which could create favourable conditions for suspensivores. Such water movements might bring occasional incursions of intermediate Norwegian Sea water into the area. Indeed the Snorre fauna appears to bear some relationships to the intermediate depth faunas of the Norwegian Sea, and is clearly different from most of the better described northern North Sea faunas.     

上海芦潮港海域污损生物的分布特征及生态特点

2007年3月1日至2008年2月29日在上海芦潮港附近海域进行了污损生物周年挂板试验,调查了该海域污损生物的种类组成、优势种、附着季节和生物量分布特征,分析了主要污损生物的生态特点.结果表明,该海域共鉴定出污损生物52种,隶属于9个生物门类,其中藻类5种,腔肠动物11种,苔藓虫6种,多毛类2种,软体动物5种,甲壳类1...     

Impacts of stormwater discharges on the nearshore benthic environment of Santa Monica Bay

Although large loads of potentially toxic constituents are discharged from coastal urban watersheds, very little is known about the fates and eventual impacts of these stormwater inputs once they enter the ocean. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of stormwater discharges on the benthic marine environment of Santa Monica Bay. Sediment samples were collected across a gradient of stormwater impact following significantly sized storm events offshore Ballona Creek (a predominantly developed watershed) and Malibu Creek (a predominantly undeveloped watershed). Sediments offshore Malibu Creek had a greater proportion of fine-grained sediments, organic carbon, and naturally occurring metals (i.e., aluminum and iron), whereas sediments offshore Ballona Creek had higher concentrations of anthropogenic metals (i.e., lead) and organic pollutants (i.e., total DDT, total PCB, total PAH). The accumulation of anthropogenic sediment contaminants offshore Ballona Creek was evident up to 2 km downcoast and 4 km upcoast from the creek mouth and sediment concentrations covaried with distance from the discharge. Although changes in sediment texture, organic content, and an increase in sediment contamination were observed, there was little or no alteration to the benthic communities offshore either Ballona or Malibu Creek. Both sites were characterized as having an abundance, species richness, biodiversity and benthic response index similar to shallow water areas distant from creek mouths throughout the Southern California Bight. There was not a preponderance of pollution tolerant, nor a lack or pollution sensitive, species offshore either creek mouth.     

Fouling in offshore areas southeast of the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Delta, the northern South China Sea

Abstract-In order to understand the type and extent of marine fouling in offshore areas southeast ofthe Zhujiang (Pearl) River delta, within the period form May 1986 to June 1987, two biologicalbuoys were deployed at water depths of 95 m and 113 m located in 114 km and 160 km off the coast ofHong Kong, respectively. Moreover, the fouling community of a Marex hydrological buoy located in115 m depth water 172 km off Hong Kong was also surveyed. The results show that a total of 78species were collected and identified. The panels exposed for 3 months were mainly dominated bystalked barnacles Conchoderma hunteri and Lepas anatifera and hydroids Orthopyxis sp. As for thebuoys, including the subsurface buoy, and their mooring systems exposed for 6 and 12 months, respec-tively, some hard foulers such as common oysters, pearl oysters, acorn barnacles and bryozoans werealso found. The compositions of fouling communities also varied greatly with depth.     

珠江口东南近海海区污损生物研究

为研究珠江口东南近海海区污损生物状况,于1986年5月至1987年6月,在香港东南约114和160km,水深为95和113m处布设了两个生物浮标站,并对距香港约172km,水深为115m处的Marex水文气象浮标上的污损生物群落进行调查.此次调查共采集和鉴定出污损生物78种,其中在浸海只有3个月的试板上,主要有柄蔓足类、水螅和藻类,优势种是细板条茗荷、茗荷和直杯螅.至于浸海时间达6～12个月的浮标(包括沉标)及锚链系统,其上还有相当数量的多种双壳类软体动物、无柄蔓足类和苔藓动物等硬性污损生物附着.在种类垂直分布方面,污损生物群落组成随深度发生明显变化.