Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary
We assessed how multi- and univariate models reflect marine environmental health based on macrobenthic community responses to three environmental stressor categories: hydrodynamics, organic enrichment and metal contamination. We then compared the models with the benthic index AMBI (AZTI Marine Bioti...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | PeerJ |
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/12427.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797421838457896960 |
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| author | Fernanda M. Souza Eliandro R. Gilbert Kalina M. Brauko Luciano Lorenzi Eunice Machado Mauricio G. Camargo |
| author_facet | Fernanda M. Souza Eliandro R. Gilbert Kalina M. Brauko Luciano Lorenzi Eunice Machado Mauricio G. Camargo |
| author_sort | Fernanda M. Souza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We assessed how multi- and univariate models reflect marine environmental health based on macrobenthic community responses to three environmental stressor categories: hydrodynamics, organic enrichment and metal contamination. We then compared the models with the benthic index AMBI (AZTI Marine Biotic Index). Macrobenthic community and physicochemical variables were sampled at 35 sites along Babitonga Bay, a subtropical estuary in Southern Brazil. Distance-based linear modelling identified depth, grain size and organic matter as well as Cu and Zn as key stressors affecting the macrobenthos. Using canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP), we developed three multivariate models based on the variability in community composition, creating stress gradients. The metal gradient showed better correlation with the benthic community. Sediment quality indices (Geoaccumulation Index and Contamination Factor) showed a low to moderate contamination status, with higher concentrations for Cr, Ni and Zn at the inner areas of the bay. According to AMBI, Babitonga Bay has a “good” environmental health status, and the AMBI values show stronger correlations with the hydrodynamic and organic enrichment gradients (r = 0.50 and r = 0.47) rather than the metal gradient (r = 0.29). Lumbrineridae polychaetes (not included in the AMBI list) and Scoloplos sp. were negatively related to the metal contamination gradient and were considered sensitive, while Sigambra sp., Magelona papillicornis, the gastropod Heleobia australis and species of the crustacean order Mysida were positively related to the gradient and considered tolerant to higher concentrations of metals in the sediment. Despite the inconsistency in the ecological classification provided by AMBI and its relationship with the metal gradient, our results suggest that the environmental quality was satisfactory for the studied gradients. The metal gradient showed the weakest correlation to AMBI. In such cases, the ecological classification of taxa by the index should be evaluated under the perspective of the action of inorganic genotoxic contaminants represented by metals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:23:15Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:23:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b330c923d21243d09748aec90c2bac952023-12-03T07:13:24ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-12-019e1242710.7717/peerj.12427Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuaryFernanda M. Souza0Eliandro R. Gilbert1Kalina M. Brauko2Luciano Lorenzi3Eunice Machado4Mauricio G. Camargo5University of Amapá State-UEAP, Macapá, AP, BrazilInstituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística-IBGE, Macapá, AP, BrazilCoordenadoria Especial de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina-UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, BrazilDepartment of Biology, University of Joinville Region-UNIVILLE, São Francisco do Sul, SC, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Meio Ambiente, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, RS, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Meio Ambiente, Institute of Oceanography, Federal University of Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, RS, BrazilWe assessed how multi- and univariate models reflect marine environmental health based on macrobenthic community responses to three environmental stressor categories: hydrodynamics, organic enrichment and metal contamination. We then compared the models with the benthic index AMBI (AZTI Marine Biotic Index). Macrobenthic community and physicochemical variables were sampled at 35 sites along Babitonga Bay, a subtropical estuary in Southern Brazil. Distance-based linear modelling identified depth, grain size and organic matter as well as Cu and Zn as key stressors affecting the macrobenthos. Using canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP), we developed three multivariate models based on the variability in community composition, creating stress gradients. The metal gradient showed better correlation with the benthic community. Sediment quality indices (Geoaccumulation Index and Contamination Factor) showed a low to moderate contamination status, with higher concentrations for Cr, Ni and Zn at the inner areas of the bay. According to AMBI, Babitonga Bay has a “good” environmental health status, and the AMBI values show stronger correlations with the hydrodynamic and organic enrichment gradients (r = 0.50 and r = 0.47) rather than the metal gradient (r = 0.29). Lumbrineridae polychaetes (not included in the AMBI list) and Scoloplos sp. were negatively related to the metal contamination gradient and were considered sensitive, while Sigambra sp., Magelona papillicornis, the gastropod Heleobia australis and species of the crustacean order Mysida were positively related to the gradient and considered tolerant to higher concentrations of metals in the sediment. Despite the inconsistency in the ecological classification provided by AMBI and its relationship with the metal gradient, our results suggest that the environmental quality was satisfactory for the studied gradients. The metal gradient showed the weakest correlation to AMBI. In such cases, the ecological classification of taxa by the index should be evaluated under the perspective of the action of inorganic genotoxic contaminants represented by metals.https://peerj.com/articles/12427.pdfMacrofaunaMetal contaminationEstuarine gradientAMBIOrganic enrichmentBabitonga Bay |
| spellingShingle | Fernanda M. Souza Eliandro R. Gilbert Kalina M. Brauko Luciano Lorenzi Eunice Machado Mauricio G. Camargo Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary PeerJ Macrofauna Metal contamination Estuarine gradient AMBI Organic enrichment Babitonga Bay |
| title | Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary |
| title_full | Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary |
| title_fullStr | Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary |
| title_short | Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary |
| title_sort | macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary |
| topic | Macrofauna Metal contamination Estuarine gradient AMBI Organic enrichment Babitonga Bay |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/12427.pdf |
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