Spatial-temporal variability of the functional diversity in the intertidal macrobenthic community at sewage-affected shores from Southwestern Atlantic

LLANOS EN; SARACHO BOTTERO MA; JAUBET ML; ELIAS R; GARAFFO GV

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2020

0025-326X

Sewage pollution effect in a coastal area of the Southwestern Atlantic was tested,through the use of functional diversity metrics (analysis of biological traits andfunctional indices). Biological samples were taken during spring and autumn (2015-2016), in four sampling sites distributed at different distances from the sewage outfall.Changes in the macrobenthic functional structure between the sewage outfall site andremote sites were observed. The functional indexes (Evenness, Dispersion, andFunctional Specialization) showed the highest values in the sites far from the dischargepoint. Correlations between functional and environmental quality indices (AMBI and MAMBI) were significant. The AMBI was positively correlated with Functional Richnessand negatively with Functional Evenness and Functional Specialization. The oppositeoccurred with the M-AMBI. The analysis of biological traits and functional diversityindices represent informative and useful tools to describe the different aspects ofwastewater impacts in the benthic assemblages on rocky coasts in SW Atlantic.