The effect of urban sewage on benthic macrofauna: A multiple spatial scale approach

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2013-02, Vol.67 (1-2), p.234-240
• Main Authors: Souza, F.M., Brauko, K.M., Lana, P.C., Muniz, P., Camargo, M.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Aquatic Organisms - classification; Aquatic Organisms - growth & development; Benthic macrofauna; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish; Brackish water ecosystems; Cities; Contamination; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effluents; Environmental Monitoring; Estuaries; Exact sciences and technology; Flats; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heleobia australis; Heteromastus; Invertebrates - classification; Invertebrates - growth & development; Laeonereis culveri; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Nested ANOVA; Organic enrichment; Organisms; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Sewage; Sewage - analysis; Sewage - statistics & numerical data; Spatial scales; Subtropical estuary; Synecology; Tidal flats; Tubificinae; Wastewaters; Water Pollutants - analysis; Water Pollutants - toxicity; Water Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.10.021

► We analysed the spatial scales of variation of macrofauna under sewage discharges. ► Organic enrichment acts as an effective force in structuring the macrofauna. ► Variability was also determined by natural intrinsic forces at smaller scales. ► Distribution and occurrence patterns indicate a moderate eutrophication state. ► Waste management should consider spatial variability as a tool for monitoring. We investigated the spatial scales of variation of macrofauna in intertidal flats subjected to different levels of contamination from urban effluents in two areas sampled in the Paranaguá Estuarine Complex. The scales considered were: Conditions; Tidal flats and Plots. Although the numerically dominant taxa showed the greatest variability at a scale of Tidal flats, the variability at the Condition scale was also significant. Tubificinae sp. 1, Laeonereis culveri and Heteromastus sp. were the most abundant organisms in the Contaminated area, while Heleobia australis was most abundant in the Non-contaminated area. Our results, contrary to those frequently observed in the literature, showed that the variability was significant at the scale of hundreds of metres (Tidal flats). At this scale, the intrinsic characteristics of each tidal flat are more important in determining macrofaunal distribution, while the effects of the urban sewage contamination represent the primary forces acting at a greater spatial scale.