Contamination on sandflats and the decoupling of linked ecological functions

Benthic macrofauna can influence inputs and transformations of energy and matter in estuaries, affecting both the stocks of vital materials (e.g. carbon, oxygen) and the rates of key processes (e.g. organic matter decomposition, nutrient uptake). Although a number of studies have identified shifts in functional groups or biological traits in relation to anthropogenic stressors, there have been few field‐based assessments of changes in functioning associated with stress gradients. We used a comparative experimental approach to investigate functioning on two sandflats with differing exposures to urban contaminants. Apart from significant differences in sediment contaminant concentrations (43.2 ± 1.8 mg kg^?1 Zn and 15.6 ± 0.9 mg kg^?1 Pb at the Pollen site; 17.7 ± 0.7 mg kg^?1 Zn and 7.9 ± 0.9 mg kg^?1 Pb at the Waiheke site), the two sandflats were readily comparable: both had similar sediment grain size distributions and were dominated by the same macrofaunal species; and both were in non‐eutrophic New Zealand marine reserves with low ambient sediment organic matter content. To better understand the effects of contaminants on biologically mediated transformations of organic matter into inorganic nutrients, we manipulated sediment organic matter content and macrofaunal abundance in standardized treatments at each site. Fluxes of oxygen and ammonium, which are linked to key sandflat processes such as organic matter decomposition and benthic photosynthesis, were measured as response variables 1 week after the experimental manipulations. We predicted more efficient organic matter processing on the uncontaminated flat and thus expected to see elevated ammonium efflux in response to organic enrichment treatments at this site. Higher rates of benthic photosynthesis were predicted for plots with higher ammonium efflux, as ammonium is a readily utilizable form of limiting inorganic nitrogen. We documented significant positive relationships between ammonium uptake and benthic primary production on the uncontaminated flat, but weaker/insignificant relationships at the contaminated site. Our data were consistent with theories of increased variability and a decoupling of system processes with increasing amounts of stress.     

Bioaccumulation of copper, lead and zinc by the bivalves Macomona liliana and Austrovenus stutchburyi

Aquatic organisms take up heavy metals from surrounding environments which accumulate in their body tissues. In the region of Auckland, New Zealand, the heavy metals, copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) are the primary sediment contaminants of concern. Previous investigations have revealed adverse effects of Cu and Zn, but not of Pb, on estuarine infauna and a higher sensitivity of the deposit-feeding bivalve Macomona liliana than the suspension-feeding bivalve Austrovenus stutchburyi to these metals. In order to further examine the bioavailability of Cu, Pb and/or Zn and their interactive effects, bioaccumulation of Cu, Pb and Zn was measured in M. liliana and A. stutchburyi after 10-day exposure to these metals in the laboratory. Both bivalves accumulated Pb and Zn, while bioaccumulation of Cu only occurred in A. stutchburyi in the presence of Zn. There was some evidence that the presence of Pb could increase bioaccumulation of Zn. Bioaccumulation was generally much higher in M. liliana than in A. stutchburyi, potentially suggesting their higher uptake rates of metals and thus explaining the higher sensitivity of M. liliana to these heavy metals. Bioaccumulation of Pb in the bivalves and its potential influences on the bioavailability of other metals indicated that, despite the lack of any evidence for acute toxicity of Pb in previous studies, it could still pose a potentially important environmental threat. Bioaccumulation of heavy metals found in the present study also highlights the needs for further investigations of potential chronic toxicity of these metals.