The multifaceted effects of fluoranthene and polystyrene on the taxonomic composition and associated functional traits of marine meiofauna, by using single and mixture applications

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2023-09, Vol.194 (Pt A), p.115390-115390, Article 115390
• Main Authors: Bellakhal, Meher, Ishak, Sahar, Al-Hoshani, Nawal, Qurtam, Ashraf A., Al-Zharani, Mohammed, Pacioglu, Octavian, Boufahja, Fehmi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fluoranthene; Index of sensitivity; Meiobenthic nematodes; Polystyrene; Taxon/functional traits
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115390

The current experiment measured the multifaceted effects of polystyrene and fluoranthene, acting alone or in a mixture on marine meiofauna, but with a special focus on nematodes' morphological and functional traits. The results showed changes in the abundances for all tested concentrations of both compounds. The nematode communities exposed to the highest concentrations of fluoranthene (30 ng.g−1 Dry Weight (DW)) and polystyrene (100 mg.kg−1 DW) alone or in a mixture, were significantly less diverse compared to control and were associated with significant changes in the percentage of taxonomic composition and feeding-guilds. The most sensitive taxa to fluoranthene comprised epistratum feeders, whereas the nematodes mostly affected by polystyrene were omnivores-carnivores. A new functional tool, the Index of Sensitivity (IOS), proved to be reliable in depicting the changes that occurred in the taxonomic and functional features of the nematofauna. •Fluoranthene affect nematode diversity at 30 ng.g−1.•Polystyrene affect nematode diversity at 100 mg.kg−1.•Mixtures of fluoranthene and polystyrene induced high toxicity for nematodes.•The Sensitivity Index, newly designed, is a valid tool in biomonitoring.