Use of multiple functional traits of protozoa for bioassessment of marine pollution

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2017-06, Vol.119 (2), p.33-38
• Main Authors: Zhong, Xiaoxiao, Xu, Guangjian, Xu, Henglong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioassessment; Biodiversity; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Biological trait; Ciliophora; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Functional diversity; Marine pollution; Protozoa; Water Pollutants - toxicity
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.03.043

Ecological parameters based on multiply functional traits have many advantages for monitoring programs by reducing “signal to noise” ratios of observed species data. To identify potential indicators for bioassessment of marine pollution in function space, the functional patterns of protozoan communities and relationships with environmental changes were studied in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea during a 1-year period. The results showed that: (1) the spatial variability in functional trait distributions of the protozoa was significantly associated with changes in environmental variables, especially chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrients on spatial scale; (2) the functional traits, especially food resources and feeding type, were significantly correlated with COD and nutrients; and (3) the functional diversity indices were generally related to nutrients or COD. Based on the results, we suggest that the functional traits and diversity indices of protozoan communities may be used as more effective indicators for bioassessment of marine pollution. •The functional structure of protozoan communities showed clear spatial variations.•Spatial variations in functional structure were significantly related to COD and nutrients.•Functional diversity indices showed significant correlations with COD or nutrients.•Functional structure of protozoan communities may be used to assess marine pollution.