Assessment of Water Pollution using Diatom Community Structure and Species Distribution — A Case Study in a Tropical River Basin

A study on biological assessment of water pollution using diatom community structure and species distribution was carried out in the Linggi River Basin, Malaysia which was polluted by various urban, industrial and agricultural wastes. A total of 86 diatom taxa belonging to 21 genera were recorded from all eight sampling stations located in the basin, of which 70 species were found on artificial substrates; the remaining 16 species were recorded exclusively on natural substrates. The number of diatom species observed between the stations varied from 22-47 species. The dominant diatom species in decreasing order of abundance were Eunotia vanheurckii, Nitzschia palea, Achnanthes saxonica, Gomphonema parvulum and Achnanthes minutissima. The most common clean water species were Achnanthes minutissima, A. linearis and Synedra rumpens. The most tolerant species were Nitzschia palea followed by Gomphonema parvulum and Pinnularia braunii. Eunotia vanheurckii and Navicula cryptocephala occurred in high densities at both unpolluted and polluted stations and can be considered as the common facultative or indifferent species. Although a large number of species were recorded at the unpolluted stations, equivalent number of species were also found at the moderately polluted stations. However, the number of species was reduced at grossly polluted stations. Nevertheless, a marked variation in species association exists between the unpolluted and polluted stations, but not among the polluted stations to distinguish the type and degree of pollution.     

中街山列岛岩相潮间带大型底栖动物的群落格局

于2006年9月和2007年7月在中街山列岛4个有居民海岛岩相潮间带设立8个断面,对大型底栖动物的群落结构进行了调查。共获得大型底栖动物34种,其中腔肠动物1种,环节动物3种,甲壳动物10种,软体动物20种。优势种有日本笠藤壶(Tetraclita japonica)、紫贻贝(Mytilus edulis)和节蝾螺(Turb articulatus)等4种。以季节和站位为因子对多样性指数进行双因素方差分析,结果表明只有夏、秋季丰富度指数(P=0.028)存在显著差异,其他指数的方差分析没有显著差异(P>0.05)。3个潮带4个岛屿共12个站位的聚类分析和MDS标序分析表明,12个群落可分为3组(Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ组)。大型底栖动物ABC曲线分析表明底栖动物群落尚未受到干扰。     

胶州湾潮间带大型底栖动物的群落生态

潮间带是沿岸带位于最大高潮水面到最小低潮水面之间的区域,处于陆海过渡带,生物资源非常丰富,也是受各种理化环境因子以及人类活动影响最大的区域。我国近年来对各地不同类型的潮间带进行了一些生态调查研究,包括对胶州湾也进行了数次生态调查,如劭晓阳等(2001)研究了浙江省岛     

Distribution of multicellular benthic algae in an eutrophic ditch

Summary Eighty species of multicellular algae were observed in fifty-three samples, collected at six sampling stations in a ditch near the village of Tienhoven (The Netherlands) in August 1975. Most species seemed to prefer particular sampling stations above particular substrates. This preference was not observed with the algae, growing in floating and submerged algal masses. Average linkage cluster analyses from Sørensen similarity coefficients revealed a linear arrangement of the sampling stations reflecting the actual arrangement of the stations in the ditch.     

紧水滩水库浮游轮虫群落与水质生态学评价

2010年5月-2011年3月,调查了紧水滩水库(Ⅰ-Ⅵ站)浮游轮虫的群落及与水质之间的关系.共鉴定轮虫45种,污染指标种37种,其中寡污-β中污带、β中污带和β-α中污带污染指示种类分别占总指示轮虫的32.4%、35.1%和24.3%.优势种为螺形龟甲轮虫(Keratella cochlearis)、针簇多肢轮虫(Polyarthra trigla)和等刺异尾轮虫(Trichocerca stylata).轮虫群落密度变幅为4.8～542.5ind.·L^-1,平均135.7ind.·L^-1;Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H′变幅为2.60～3.65,平均3.20:Q_B/T值变幅为0.83～2.50,平均1.39.Ⅰ-Ⅱ站的群落密度和多样性指数较低,Q_B/T值较大;而Ⅲ-Ⅵ站的群落密度和多样性指数均较高,Q_B/T值较小.Q_B/T值随着水体透明度的增大而明显下降.紧水滩水库属于寡污-中污(贫-中营养型)水体,其中Ⅰ-Ⅱ站为中污(中营养型),Ⅲ-Ⅵ站为寡污-β中污(贫营养型)水体.     

长江口附近海域大型底栖动物群落特征

利用2002年9月在长江口附近海域进行的大型底栖动物定量采集样品,采用物种优势度计算方法和大型多元统计分析软件PRIMER,研究了该海域大型底栖动物群落的优势种组成和物种多样性、生物量和丰度、群落等级聚类分析(CLUSTER)和非度量MDS标序以及群落受污染扰动情况。本次调查共获得长江口附近海域大型底栖动物154种,其中多毛类环节动物60种,甲壳动物30种,软体动物28种,棘皮动物25种,其它类群动物11种。群落中优势种的地位都不明显,只有虫(Listriolobussp.)、豆形短眼蟹(Xenophthalmus pinnotheroidesWhite)、拟单指虫(Cossurella dimorphaHartman)为相对重要的种类。栖息种数、平均生物量和丰度以及3个多样性指数H′、D和J的空间分布无明显的规律,在122°E以东海域呈不连续的斑块或镶嵌状分布。群落结构聚类分析和MDS标序表明,20个取样站的群落结构相似性程度都非常低,为10%-30%,仅有A12和E4两个站Bray-Curtis相似性系数达到50%。ABC曲线表明,近长江口的A4站和A14站的底栖动物群落已有受到一定程度的轻微污染扰动的趋势;而距长江口较远的P9和P5两站ABC曲线状况正常,表明该处的大型底栖动物群落尚未受到干扰。     

Sublittoral Macrobenthic Infaunal Assemblages of Two Nearby Embayments from Central Chile

The benthic assemblages in two Central Chile nearby embayments were studied from quantitative samples collected from 15 sites at depths of 8–65 m. The macrobenthic infauna (<0.5 mm) of both bays was greatly dominated by polychaetes. Some 93 taxa were identified, of which 51 were polychaetes. The average macrofaunal abundance for all stations (15,021 ind. m⁻²) is very close to the values reported for the neighboring areas. Numerical classification and ordination (DCA) of sites resulted in three site-groups mostly reflecting differences in the bottom sediments: the muddy-bottom stations of Concepción Bay and the shelf-associated stations, the sandy-bottom stations of San Vicente Bay and an heavily polluted station at San Vicente port. Classification of species showed that the muddy-bottom stations and the sandy-bottom sites had characteristic species assemblages. The macrofaunal assemblages presented high dominance values, which were due to the high numerical abundances of a few species in the collections.     

南沙群岛渚碧礁大型底栖动物群落特征

利用2002年5月12日至5月21日在南沙群岛渚碧礁用轻潜水(SCUBA)方法于该礁盘不同位置设立的4个定量取样站采集的调查资料,采用IRI指数、ABC曲线方法和大型多元统计分析软件PRIMER对渚碧礁大型底栖动物进行等级聚类分析(CLUSTER)和非度量MDS标序,研究群落结构格局以及用Shannon-Wiener指数、物种丰富度指数和物种均匀度指数分析物种多样性和群落种类组成的相似程度,对渚碧礁大型底栖动物的群落结构进行了初步研究。结果表明:调查获得渚碧礁调查站大型底栖动物总种数314种,平均栖息密度为357.94个/m2,平均生物量为64.85g/m2;群落中主要的重要种或优势种为粗糙毛壳蟹(Pilodius scabriculus)和鼓虾(Alpheus spp.),但IRI指数相对较低;群落结构聚类分析和MDS标序表明,4个取样站的群落结构非常相似,Bray-Curtis相似性系数达到80%以上。     

Environmental Influence on Planktonic Cladocerans and Copepods in the Floodplain of the Upper River Paraná, Brazil

The abundance of microcrustacean species recorded in plankton samples from the littoral and pelagic zones of the Upper Paran River, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, was evaluated in relation to abiotic and biotic environmental factors. The cladocerans Bosminopsis deitersi and Bosmina hagmann i were most abundant. The presence or absence of aquatic macrophytes also influenced abundance and species composition. The true zooplankton species were most abundant at the pelagic stations, while species of Chydoridae and Macrothricidae contributed markedly to microcrustacean abundance and species richness at littoral stations. Species abundance was also strongly affected by water level variation. Microcrustaceans, mainly bosminids, were most abundant during low water. During high water, bosminids decreased in abundance while most other species increased. The higher variation of the environmental factors during high water probably explains the shift in abundance patterns. Changes in water level increased mixing of littoral and pelagic microcrustaceans between sampling stations.     

Effects of Sewage Dumping on Macrobenthic Invertebrates in the Jordan Gulf of Aqaba,Red Sea

There are two sewage outfalls along the Jordanian coastline in the Gulf of Aqaba. During 1982 and 1983 a total of 328 core samples (0.01 m² to a depth of 15 cm) were collected from the two outfalls, two control stations which resemble the outfalls in depth and sediment texture, and from two stations 100 m on both sides of each outfall. Faunal analysis revealed that the total number of individuals, number of species, species richness, and faunal similarities of macrobenthic invertebrates were lower at the sewage outfall near the phosphate loading port than the control station during both collections. At the 100 m stations, the numbers of individuals were generally higher than the sewage and control stations. The number of species, however, was highest at the control station and lowest at the sewage outfall. At the other sewage outfall, where the sewage effluent is discharged sporadically, no measurable effects on macrobenthic invertebrates were found.     

Effect of urban and industrial wastes on species diversity of the diatom community in a tropical river,Malaysia

Monthly species diversity and other components of diversity of diatom samples collected over a period of one year at eight stations in the Linggi River Basin, Malaysia were analysed. Species diversity ranged between 0.52–3.62 bits individua^–1. Among the four stations located in the Linggi River (sensu stricto), highest diversity values were recorded at a station polluted by rubber effluent, followed by the stations unpolluted from point sources. Lowest diversity was recorded at a station polluted with urban sewage. At Kundor River, highest diversity was recorded at stations located downstream of rubber and palm oil waste discharges. On the whole, diversity values at unpolluted stations were always lower than at mildly polluted stations. Severe organic loadings caused low diversity by reducing the number of species (species richness) but did not increase the evenness (equitability) as expected when compared with unpolluted or mildly polluted stations. The changes in species diversity can be related to changes in diatom community structure and thereby changes in water quality, but cannot be used as an index of water quality.     

Distribution of aquatic Oligochaeta in the Finnish Lake District

SUMMARY. The distribution of oligochaetes was examined at sampling stations grouped into three types: (1), in eutrophic and dystrophic areas or in areas polluted by pulp-mill wastewaters; (2), slightly eutrophic stations; (3), 'clean' stations unaffected by sewage or other inputs. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Potamothrix hammoniensis were practically the only species in group 1, and the same species accounted for two thirds of the total numbers in group 2, although Peloscolex ferox and some other species also occurred. At the cleanest stations the dominating species were P. ferox, Psammoryctides barbatus, Stylodrilus heringianus and Tubifex tubifex . A factor analysis showed that L. hoffmeisteri and P. hammoniensis were associated with increased nutrients and water colour in the lower part of the epilimnion. In the metalimnion the relationship of S. heringianus and P. ferox to water colour and total nitrogen differed from that of L. hoffmeisteri and P. hammoniensis . Winter oxygen content was important for S. heringianus .     

Species diversity and assemblages of macrobenthic Mollusca from the South Shetland Islands and Bransfield Strait (Antarctica)

During the research program BENTART 95, carried out from 16 January to 4 February 1995 on board RV Hesperides, a semi-quantitative Agassiz trawl and quantitative Van-Veen grabs were used at 31 subtidal stations between 40 and 850 m depth around Livingston Island, at Deception Island and in the Bransfield Strait. These data were used to search for and analyse the malacological assemblages. Among the molluscs sampled were 1,786 individuals belonging to 70 species of Solenogastres, Gastropoda Prosobranchia and Opisthobranchia, Scaphopoda and Bivalvia. The values of Shannon-Wiener diversity index ranged between 0.00 (one specimen) and 3.95, while Pielou's evenness index varied between 0.0 and 1.00. The bivalve Thyasira cf. dearborni was the most abundant species (227 specimens). Species richness varied from 1 to 19 species. Diversity showed great variations at different stations. The clustering analysis applying the Bray-Curtis coefficient allowed species classification according to constancy and fidelity, and distinguished four groups of stations: one that gathers clearly the stations of the inner bay of Deception Island, excepting station 1, and the other three fitting the remaining stations, located north and south of Livingston Island and in the Bransfield Strait, and correlated with environmental factors (granulometric composition, organic matter and carbonates). Accepted: 18 July 2000     

Changes in the ciliate assemblage along a fluvial system related to physical, chemical and geomorphological characteristics

Samples were collected monthly from the water-sediment interface at six stations along the Mincio River (northern Italy) during a 1-year study of the ciliated protozoan communities. Four stations were located upstream of the Mantua lakes in the hyporhithron fluvial zone and two stations were located in the potamon fluvial zone between the Mantua lakes and the confluence with the Po River. A total of 133 species of active trophic ciliates belonging to 76 genera were found. Community structures revealed in this data were analysed using some statistical methods (similarity index, and categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA)) and this allowed the determination of differences between stations and between ciliate communities characteristic of stations. Species typical of the ecotypes located in both rhithron and potamon fluvial zones were defined. The saprobic index and valency analysis methods were used to quantify organic input and to follow changes in saprobicity along the river. A change in the ciliate communities was observed between stations located upstream and stations located downstream of the town of Mantua. The former were composed mainly of beta-mesosaprobic species, typical of the hill zone of running waters, while in the latter increased numbers of alpha-mesosaprobic species are associated with the higher anthropogenic pressures. Our results reiterate the high sensitivity shown by ciliated protozoa as indicators of organic load in watercourses.     

The biodiversity and biogeography of the free-living nematode genera Desmodora and Desmodorella (family Desmodoridae) at both sides of the Scotia Arc

Samples taken at two stations in the northern and southern parts of the Scotia Arc, at depths of 277 and 307 m, respectively, were analysed for metazoan meiofauna with special attention to the nematodes. Identification to species level was performed for two closely related subdominant nematode genera (Desmodora and Desmodorella) in samples from the two Scotia Arc stations and in other available samples from adjacent areas (Magellan Region, Drake Passage, Weddell Sea). Seven Desmodora species and three Desmodorella species were found, of which, respectively five and two species are new to science. The Scotia Arc stations show relatively high densities and average diversity on meiofauna and nematode level compared to adjacent areas. The distribution patterns of the various Desmodora and Desmodorella species suggest the Scotia Arc as a shallow bridge and a possible exchange route for meiofauna between the Antarctic and South America, especially since these species seem to be constrained by water depth.     

Community structure and species diversity of Harpacticoida (Crustacea: Copepoda) at two sites in the deep sea of the Angola Basin (Southeast Atlantic)

The aim of this study was to evaluate compositional differences between harpacticoid (Crustacea, Copepoda) assemblages at two widely separated abyssal locations. During the DIVA 1 cruise of RV METEOR (July/August 2000) to the Angola Basin (Southeast Atlantic), two deep-sea stations, approximately 300 nautical miles apart (Stations 325 and 346), were sampled repeatedly by Multicorer (MUC). For quantitative analyses, 5 MUC samples were selected at random from each of 15 deployments at both stations, totalling 75 cores. Across the study, 7,081 Harpacticoida specimens were encountered and of these 31.4 % were adults and could be analysed to species level: 682 species were identified, with 99.3 % new to science. At northern Station 346, a total of 600 species were recorded—the highest harpacticoid species number ever recorded for a single deep-sea locality. Most species (56 %) were represented by singletons. Multivariate tests identified significant differences between community compositions at the two stations. Diversity, species richness and species density were higher at Station 346, whilst taxonomic distinctness, evenness, and rarefaction were similar between stations. Regression and correlation analyses showed that the difference in species diversity was best explained by species densities rather than species richness. Under-sampling due to low densities was an issue at the southern Station 325. Nevertheless, our study demonstrated significant differences in regional-scale harpacticoid community structures within a single deep-sea basin that would usually be considered a uniform and stable habitat. These observed differences are thought to reflect differences in food availability at the two stations.     

New and little-known Komokiacea (Foraminifera) from the bathyal and abyssal Weddell Sea and adjacent areas

Based on samples from the south-east Atlantic and Southern Ocean collected during the ANDEEP III campaign we describe three new species, Ipoa pennata sp. nov., Septuma stellata sp. nov. and Skeletonia variabilis gen. et sp. nov. , of the enigmatic deep-sea foraminiferan superfamily Komokiacea. A further six species, Ipoa fragila Tendal & Hessler, 1977, Komokia multiramosa Tendal & Hessler, 1977, Normanina conferta (Norman, 1878), Septuma ocotillo Tendal & Hessler, 1977, S. brachyramosa Kamenskaya, 1993, and S. komokiformis Kamenskaya 1993, are redescribed. Together, these nine species occurred at 14 stations across the depth range 1549–4935 m. Normanina conferta was found at 11 stations (1579–4935 m); S. ocotillo (4526–4935 m), S. brachyramosa (1819–4730 m) and S. stellata (2603–4934 m) at six stations each; I. fragila (4649–4934 m) at five stations; K. multiramosa (4700–4935) and S. variabilis (4696–4932 m) at four stations each; I. pennata (4803–4934 m) at three stations and S. komokiformis (3103–4526 m) at two stations. Five species occur in both the North Atlantic Ocean and the Southern Ocean, suggesting that close faunal links exist between these areas. Three were first described from the North Pacific Ocean while others, including the three new species, are so far known only from the Southern Ocean.  © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 151 , 219–251.     

Ciliated Protozoan communities in a fluvial ecosystem

The ciliated protozoan communities in the Llobregat River (Barcelona, Spain) were studied for one year. Samples were taken from 11 different stations. The physical-chemical factors of the water as well as the qualitative and quantitative nature of the ciliate populations were considered. 105 species of ciliates, grouped in 13 orders, were found.The species which constantly appeared at all 11 stations (although not every month) were Litonotus fasciola, Trithigmostoma cucullulus, Cyclidium glaucoma, Glaucoma scintillans, Vorticella microstoma, Oxytricha sp., Stylonychia mytilus, Aspidisca costata and Aspidisca lynceus. The index of diversity at the different stations, and the affinity between the most abundant species, were also determined.     

Cascading effects of moose (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alces alces</Emphasis>) management on birds

Large herbivores often have key functions in their ecosystems, and may affect ecosystem processes with cascading effects on other animals. The mechanisms often involve relocations of resources of various kinds, including reduction in resource availability following foraging and increase in resources from animal excreta. As large herbivore populations in Europe generally are intensely managed, management activities may interact with the activities of the herbivores themselves in the effect on other ecosystem components. We investigated the effects of moose (Alces alces) winter browsing, together with the effect of net nutrient input via supplementary winter feeding of moose on functional composition and species richness of birds in a boreal forest. Supplementary feeding stations for moose had a net zero effect on bird species richness and abundance, because negative effects of moose browsing were balanced by positive effects of nutrient input. Sites with a similar browsing intensity as at feeding stations but without nutrient input had lower abundance and species richness than feeding stations. Functional groups of bird species showed differing responses: birds nesting at or below browsing height were negatively affected by moose browsing, whereas species nesting above the browsing zone were positively affected by moose browsing. Insect-eating species responded negatively to moose browsing on birch but positively to nutrient input at feeding stations, whereas seed-eating species responded positively to birch browsing and negatively to feeding stations. This study showed that both high levels of cervid activity and human management interventions influence bird communities.     

Ciliated protozoan communities and saprobic evaluation of water quality in the hilly zone of some tributaries of the Po River (northern Italy)

Ciliate protozoans were collected from five watercourses belonging to the hydrographic network of the North Apennines (Italy) and flowing into the middle lower section of the river Po from its right bank. Thirteen stations were selected in the meta- and hyporhithron section of the five studied rivers and samples from water–sediment interface were collected during a 1year period. A total of 175 species of ciliates belonging to 97 genera were found, of which 68 were bacterivorous, 58 were algivorous, 26 were omnivorous and 23 were carnivorous. Their distribution varied both with distance along the river and with the time. Community structures were analysed using some statistical methods and this allowed the determination of similarities among stations and relationships between species and stations. The saprobic index and valency methods were used to evaluate the water quality at the 13 stations. Comparisons between the five watercourses indicate that trophic state influences the composition of ciliate communities. The high similarity observed in the unpolluted stations enabled us to define the typical species and the community of the meta- hyporhithron zone. Conversely, polluted stations showed the lowest similarities. Our results confirm that in watercourses the organic load may be the dominating factor able to influence, if not eliminate the diversifying effects of other factors such as those which characterize the longitudinal zonation of the watercourses.