Taxonomic and functional macrofaunal diversity along a gradient of sewage contamination: A three-year study

Type : ACL
Nature : Production scientifique
Au bénéfice du Laboratoire : Oui
Statut de publication : Publié
Année de publication : 2023
Auteurs (7) : NASI F VESAL S,e RELITTI F BAZZARO M TEIXIDO Nuria AURIEMMA R CIBIC T
Revue scientifique : Environmental Pollution
Volume : 323
Fascicule :
Pages :
DOI : 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121022
URL : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749123000246
Abstract : We investigated the structural and functional changes of the soft-bottom macrofaunal community following the improvement of a wastewater treatment-WWT plant. The macrofauna was collected at increasing distance from the main outfall in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Organic matter and nutrients were analysed in the water column near the outfalls to detect possible changes due to the improved treatment. We examined Functional Entities-FEs (i.e. a unique combination of species functional traits), species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity-H ', and taxonomic and functional beta-diversity. From 2018 (before the year of the treatment change), to 2021, we noted a gradual decrease of organic carbon in the water column. In contrast, sediment characteristics (i.e. grain-size) did not change before and after treatment enhancement, with the exception of redox potential. Species richness and FEs gradually increased moving far from the source of organic contamination and after wastewater treatment enhancement, especially near the outfall. We observed different phases of macrofaunal succession stage after the WWT amelioration. A 'normal stage', i.e. slightly lower species richness, was reflected in decreasing functional richness. Higher taxonomic beta-diversity values with significant turnover components indicated that the com-munity was subjected to broad changes in species composition. However, functional beta-diversity did not follow the same pattern. After treatment improvement, modified environmental conditions led to the establishment of new species, but with the same functions. Towards 2021, the community improved its resilience by increasing functional redundancy and reduction of vulnerability, which enhanced community stability. The latter was also reflected in the well-balanced proportion of macrofaunal feeding habits after the WWT upgrade. Integrating the classical taxonomic approach with the analysis of FEs, and environmental characteristics can provide an accurate insight into macrofauna sensitivity to stressors that are likely to lead to changes in the ecological state of an area.
Mots-clés : Macrofaunal community; Functional space; Functional entities; Beta-diversity component; Sewage effluent disposal; Northern Adriatic sea
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Citation :
Nasi F, Vesal SE, Relitti F, Bazzaro M, Teixido N, Auriemma R, Cibic T (2023) Taxonomic and functional macrofaunal diversity along a gradient of sewage contamination: A three-year study. Environ Pollut 323 | doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121022