Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China
The biological trait analysis (BTA) is regarded as a promising approach to unravel how ecosystem functions respond to human-induced disturbances. This study considered the four sampling locations associated with different human activities in Daya Bay, that is, the domestic and industrial sewage disc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.766580/full |
| _version_ | 1818825818310180864 |
|---|---|
| author | Yiyong Rao Yiyong Rao Lizhe Cai Lizhe Cai Xinwei Chen Xiping Zhou Sujing Fu Honghui Huang Honghui Huang |
| author_facet | Yiyong Rao Yiyong Rao Lizhe Cai Lizhe Cai Xinwei Chen Xiping Zhou Sujing Fu Honghui Huang Honghui Huang |
| author_sort | Yiyong Rao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The biological trait analysis (BTA) is regarded as a promising approach to unravel how ecosystem functions respond to human-induced disturbances. This study considered the four sampling locations associated with different human activities in Daya Bay, that is, the domestic and industrial sewage discharge area (SED), mariculture area (MRC), nuclear power plants thermal discharge area (NTD), and an area with relatively low human disturbance as a reference (REF). Thirty modalities of nine traits were selected in BTA. Our results showed a clear shift in the functional structure of macrobenthic communities between the sampling locations, except for the case between NTD and REF. The trait composition in the communities did not highlight any seasonal patterns. Bioturbation, longevity, tolerance, body size, feeding habit, and environmental position were the key traits to characterize the functional structure of macrobenthic communities and demonstrated predictable responses along the environmental gradients. Water depth, DO, Chl-a, NH4+, and petroleum contaminants in sediments were the main variables influencing the trait composition. In addition, the taxonomic index (H′) and functional diversity index (Rao’s Q) showed clear differences among the sampling locations. Although there were no significant differences between NTD and REF in terms of the trait composition and functional diversity, a potential function loss in NTD still can be detected through the integrated analysis with taxonomic diversity. We suggest that the traits (except for fragility, larval development, and living habits) selected and the diversity indices (H′ and Rao’s Q) could serve as promising indicators of ecological conditions in Daya Bay. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:17:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-abd74e1304fc428fb865f567c9e5e26a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-665X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:17:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-abd74e1304fc428fb865f567c9e5e26a2022-12-21T20:45:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2021-11-01910.3389/fenvs.2021.766580766580Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), ChinaYiyong Rao0Yiyong Rao1Lizhe Cai2Lizhe Cai3Xinwei Chen4Xiping Zhou5Sujing Fu6Honghui Huang7Honghui Huang8South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, ChinaCollege of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems, Xiamen University, Xiamen, ChinaCollege of the Environment and Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College, Zhangzhou, ChinaLaboratory of Marine Biology and Ecology, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, ChinaSouth China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou, ChinaThe biological trait analysis (BTA) is regarded as a promising approach to unravel how ecosystem functions respond to human-induced disturbances. This study considered the four sampling locations associated with different human activities in Daya Bay, that is, the domestic and industrial sewage discharge area (SED), mariculture area (MRC), nuclear power plants thermal discharge area (NTD), and an area with relatively low human disturbance as a reference (REF). Thirty modalities of nine traits were selected in BTA. Our results showed a clear shift in the functional structure of macrobenthic communities between the sampling locations, except for the case between NTD and REF. The trait composition in the communities did not highlight any seasonal patterns. Bioturbation, longevity, tolerance, body size, feeding habit, and environmental position were the key traits to characterize the functional structure of macrobenthic communities and demonstrated predictable responses along the environmental gradients. Water depth, DO, Chl-a, NH4+, and petroleum contaminants in sediments were the main variables influencing the trait composition. In addition, the taxonomic index (H′) and functional diversity index (Rao’s Q) showed clear differences among the sampling locations. Although there were no significant differences between NTD and REF in terms of the trait composition and functional diversity, a potential function loss in NTD still can be detected through the integrated analysis with taxonomic diversity. We suggest that the traits (except for fragility, larval development, and living habits) selected and the diversity indices (H′ and Rao’s Q) could serve as promising indicators of ecological conditions in Daya Bay.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.766580/fullbiological trait analysismacrobenthic communityfunctional diversityhuman activityDaya Bay |
| spellingShingle | Yiyong Rao Yiyong Rao Lizhe Cai Lizhe Cai Xinwei Chen Xiping Zhou Sujing Fu Honghui Huang Honghui Huang Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China Frontiers in Environmental Science biological trait analysis macrobenthic community functional diversity human activity Daya Bay |
| title | Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China |
| title_full | Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China |
| title_fullStr | Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China |
| title_short | Responses of Functional Traits of Macrobenthic Communities to Human Activities in Daya Bay (A Subtropical Semi-Enclosed Bay), China |
| title_sort | responses of functional traits of macrobenthic communities to human activities in daya bay a subtropical semi enclosed bay china |
| topic | biological trait analysis macrobenthic community functional diversity human activity Daya Bay |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.766580/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yiyongrao responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT yiyongrao responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT lizhecai responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT lizhecai responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT xinweichen responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT xipingzhou responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT sujingfu responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT honghuihuang responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina AT honghuihuang responsesoffunctionaltraitsofmacrobenthiccommunitiestohumanactivitiesindayabayasubtropicalsemienclosedbaychina |