Intertidal macroinvertebrate community structure in a subtropical channel is driven by sediment properties across different land-use types

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2022-09, Vol.29 (44), p.66389-66404
• Main Authors: Abdullah Al, Mamun, Akhtar, Aysha, Barua, Hillol, Kamal, Abu Hena Mustafa, Islam, Md. Shafiqul, AftabUddin, Sheikh, Idris, Mohd Hanafi, Abualreesh, Muyassar H., Modeo, Letizia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Aquaculture; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bangladesh; Biodiversity; Biogeochemical cycles; Coastal ecosystems; Community composition; Community structure; Composition; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological function; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Geographical distribution; Habitats; Intertidal zone; Land use; Macroinvertebrates; Mangroves; Research Article; Seasons; Sediment samplers; Sediments; Stochastic processes; Stochasticity; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20471-z

Macroinvertebrate community in the intertidal setup plays an important role in coastal ecosystem functions and biogeochemical cycle. However, different land use pattern may influence on their community structure, diversity, and composition in the coastal ecosystems. Using Van-Veen grab sampler, 60 sediment samples were seasonally collected from mangroves-dominated, aquaculture-dominated, and anthropogenically affected area in the lower intertidal zone of the Kohelia channel of Bangladesh, the Northern Bay of Bengal. We have tasted the variation in sediment properties across three land-use types in this intertidal habitat. To understand the patterns of benthic macroinvertebrate distribution, a neutral community model was applied. Our results showed that community composition and biodiversity of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities varied significantly between mangrove-dominated area with anthropogenically affected areas among the four seasons. The neutral community model revealed that community assembly of benthic macroinvertebrates in the lower intertidal habitats is structured by stochastic processes while sediment properties have significant influence on species distribution and interactions. Results suggested that land-use changes altered sediment properties and could change the diversity and distribution of the macroinvertebrate communities in the lower intertidal habitats.