Spatial-temporal variations of a SW Atlantic macrobenthic community affected by a chronic anthropogenic disturbance

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

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2020 vol. 156 p. 1 - 11

0025-326X

The effect of the chronic anthropogenic disturbance in acoastal area of the Southwestern Atlantic was tested, and the ecologicalstatus of the area was evaluated through the use of environmental qualityindices AMBI and M-AMBI. A total of 144 biological samples were takenduring spring and autumn in four sampling sites. The site placed in theoutfall showed high percentages of organic matter, silt and clay insediment and high concentration of Enterococcus in seawater. The invasivepolychaete Boccardia proboscidea dominated the outfall site during thestudy period, while the ecosystem engineer Brachidontes rodrigueziidominated the non-impacted sites. Regarding the AMBI and M-AMBI indices,the outfall site presented the lowest environmental health values in bothspring and autumn. The benthic community in this coastal area responds tosewage pollution by a change in species composition.