Determination of organic contamination levels by the ABC Method (Abundance/Biomass Curves) in intertidal estuarine flats using hierarchical design
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/Keywords:
Macrobenthic fauna, Tidal flats, K and r-strategiesAbstract
This study evaluates the applicability and reliability of the ABC method as an indicator of the level of organic pollution in non-vegetated tidal flats in a subtropical estuary in southern Brazil. Following a hierarchical sampling design, the method was applied in two contaminated and two non-contaminated tidal flats near Paranaguá. It was conducted in three consecutive fortnights of a summer and a winter, aiming to analyze correlations between faunal responses and chemical indicators of contamination and spatio-temporal variability. Tidal flats closer to the city were classified as grossly contaminated. However, the responses on the non-contaminated area were highly heterogeneous, indicating that natural inputs of organic matter were confounded with pollution effects. In the AIC analysis applied to the W-statistics of the ABC curves, the best model showed correlations with some of the fecal steroids and total organic carbon. Contrary to expected, the ABC curves significantly varied at the smaller spatio-temporal scales due to the high local hydrodynamics and natural organic inputs. This suggests that the ABC method is indeed sensible to the contamination levels and can be used as an index of biotic quality. However, the method must be cautiously applied in estuaries subjected to natural organic enrichment.
References
Akaike, H. 1974. A new look at the statistical model identification. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, 19(6), 716–723.
Abreu-Mota, M. A., Moura Barboza, C. A., Bícego, M. C. & Martins, C. C. 2014. Sedimentary biomarkers along a contamination gradient in a human-impacted subestuary in Southern Brazil: A multi-parameter approach based on spatial and seasonal variability. Chemosphere,
, 156–163.
Anderson, M., Gorley, R. N. & Clarke, R. K. 2008. Permanova+ for Primer: Guide to Software and Statistical Methods. Plymouth, PRIMER-E.
Beukema, J. J. 1988. An evaluation of the ABC-method (abundance/biomass comparison) as applied to macrozoobenthic communities living on tidal flats in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Marine Biology, 99(3), 425–433.
Brauko, K. M., Muniz, P., Martins, C. de C., & da Cunha Lana, P. 2016. Assessing the suitability of five benthic indices for environmental health assessment in a large subtropical South American estuary. Ecological Indicators, 64, 258–265.
CAB – Águas de Paranaguá. Esgoto. Available from: https://igua.com.br/paranagua. Access date: June 5, 2014.
Cai, W., Meng, W., Liu, L. & Lin, K. 2013. Evaluation of the ecological status with benthic indices in the coastal system: the case of Bohai Bay (China). Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 8, 737–746.
Carter, J. L., Resh, V. H. & Hannaford, M. J. 2017. Macroinvertebrates as Biotic Indicators of Environmental Quality. In: Lamberti, G. A. & Hauer, F. R. (Ed.). Methods in Stream Ecology (3º ed, vol 2: Ecosystem Function, pp. 293–318).
Clarke, K. R. 1990. Comparisons of dominance curves. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 138(1), 143–157.
Clarke, K. R. & Gorley, R. N. 2006. PRIMER v6: user manual/tutorial (Plymouth routines in multivariate ecological research). Plymouth, Primer-E Ltd.
Dauer, D. M., Luckenbach, M. W. & Rodi Jr, A. J. 1993. Abundance biomass comparison (ABC method): effects of an estuarine gradient, anoxic/hypoxic events and contaminated sediments. Marine Biology, 116(3), 507–518.
Dauvin, J. C., Alizier, S., Rolet, C., Bakalem, A., Bellan, G., Gesteira, J. L., Grimes, S., De-La-Ossa-Carretero, J.A. & Del-Pilar-Ruso, Y. 2012. Response of different ACB curves; hierarchical design and organic contamination Ocean and Coastal Research 2024, v72(suppl 1):e24033 13 Baudisch et al. benthic indices to diverse human pressures. Ecological Indicators, 12(1), 143–153.
Drake, P. & Arias, A. M. 1997. The effect of aquaculture practices on the benthic macroinvertebrate community of a lagoon system in the Bay of Cadiz (southwestern Spain). Estuaries, 20(4), 677–688.
Frontalini, F., Semprucci, F., Coccioni, R., Balsamo, M., Bittoni, P. & Covazzi-Harriague, A. 2011. On the quantitative distribution and community structure of the meio and macrofaunal communities in the coastal area of the Central Adriatic Sea (Italy). Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment,180(1-4), 325–344.
Gaston, G. R., Rakocinski, C. F., Brown, S. S. & Cleveland, C. M. 1998. Trophic function in estuaries: response of macrobenthos to natural and contaminant gradients. Marine and Freshwater Research, 49(8), 833–846.
Geist, S. J., Nordhaus, I. & Hinrichs, S. 2012. Occurrence of species-rich crab fauna in a human-impacted mangrove forest questions the application of community analysis as an environmental assessment tool. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 96, 69–80.
Gilbert, E. R., Camargo, M. G. & Sandrini-Neto, L. 2012. rysgran: Grain size analysis, textural classifications and distribution of unconsolidated sediments. R package version 2.
Grasshoff, K., Ehrhardt, M. & Kremling, K. 1983. Methods of seawater analysis (2a ed). Weinheim, Verlag Chemie. Grimalt, J. O., Fernandez, P., Bayona, J. M. & Albaiges, J. 1990. Assessment of fecal sterols and ketones as indicators of urban sewage inputs to coastal waters.
Environmental Science & Technology, 24(3), 357–363. Huang, Y., Li, Y., Chen, Q., Huang, Y., Tian, J., Cai, M., Huang, Y. Yang, J., Yang, Y. Du, X., Liu, Z. & Zhao, Y. 2021. Effects of reclamation methods and habitats on macrobenthic communities and ecological health in estuarine coastal wetlands. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 168, 112420.
Huang, Y., Huang, Y., Du, X., Li, Y., Tian, J., Chen, Q., Huang, Y., Lv, W. Yang, Y., Liu, Z. & Zhao, Y. 2022. Assessment of macrobenthic community function and ecological quality after reclamation in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary wetland. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 41(11), 96–107.
Jeng, W. L. & Han, B. C. 1994. Sedimentary coprostanol in Kaohsiung harbour and the Tan-Shui estuary, Taiwan. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 28(8), 494–499.
Jimenez, H., Dumas, P., Bigot, L. & Ferraris, J. 2015. Harvesting effects on tropical invertebrate assemblages in New Caledonia. Fisheries Research, 167, 75–81.
Kawakami, S. K. & Montone, R. C. 2002. An efficient ethanol-based analytical protocol to quantify fecal steroids in marine sediments. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 13, 226–232.
Kolm, H. E., Schoenenberger, M. F., Piemonte, M. D. R., Souza, P. S. D. A., Mucciatto, M. B. & Mazzuco, R. 2002. Spatial variation of bacteria in surface waters of Paranaguá and Antonina Bays, Paraná, Brazil. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 45(1), 27–34.
Lambshead, P. J. D., Platt, H. M. & Shaw, K. M. 1983. The detection of differences among assemblages of marine benthic species based on an assessment of dominance and diversity. Journal of Natural History, 17(6), 859–874.
Liu, Z., Chen, M., Li, Y., Huang, Y., Fan, B., Lv, W., Yu, P., Wu, F. & Zhao, Y. 2018. Different effects of reclamation methods on macrobenthos community structure in the Yangtze Estuary, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 127, 429–436.
Lv, W., Huang, Y., Liu, Z., Yang, Y., Fan, B. & Zhao, Y. 2016a. Application of macrobenthic diversity to estimate ecological health of artificial oyster reef in Yangtze Estuary, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 103(1-2), 137–143.
Lv, W., Liu, Z., Yang, Y., Huang, Y., Fan, B., Jiang, Q. & Zhao, Y. 2016b. Loss and self-restoration of macrobenthic diversity in reclamation habitats of estuarine islands in Yangtze Estuary, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 103(1-2), 128–136.
Mannino, A. & Montagna, P. A. 1997. Small-scale spatial variation of macrobenthic community structure. Estuaries, 20(1), 159–173.
Martins, C. C., Braun, J. A., Seyffert, B. H., Machado, E. C. & Fillmann, G. 2010. Anthropogenic organic matter inputs indicated by sedimentary fecal steroids in a large South American tropical estuary (Paranaguá estuarine system, Brazil). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60(11), 2137–2143.
McManus, J. W. & Pauly, D. 1990. Measuring ecological stress: variations on a theme by RM Warwick. Marine Biology, 106(2), 305–308.
Meire, P. M. & Dereu, J. 1990. Use of the abundance/biomass comparison method for detecting environmental stress: some considerations based on intertidal macrozoobenthos and bird communities. Journal of Applied Ecology, 27(1), 210–223.
Montone, R. C., Martins, C. C., Bícego, M. C., Taniguchi, S., Da Silva, D. A. M., Campos, L. S. & Weber, R. R. 2010. Distribution of sewage input in marine sediments around a maritime Antarctic research station indicated by molecular geochemical indicators. Science of the
Total Environment, 408(20), 4665–4671.
Mudge, S. M. & Seguel, C. G. 1999. Organic contamination of San Vicente Bay, Chile. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 38(11), 1011–1021.
Naumov, A. D. 2006. Clams of the White Sea: ecological and faunistic analysis. St. Petersburg, Russian Academy of Sciences. Noernberg, M. A., Lautert, L. F. C., Araújo, A. D., Marone, E., Angelotti, R., Netto Jr, J. P. B. & Krug, L. A. 2006. Remote sensing and GIS integration for modelling the Paranaguá estuarine complex-Brazil. Journal of Coastal Research, 39, 1627–1631.
Oksanen, J., Kindt, R., Legendre, P., O’hara, B., Simpsons, G. L., Solymos, P., Stevens, M. H. H. & Wagner, H. 2008. The vegan package, Available from: http://vegan.rforge.r-project.org/. Access date: 2024 Mar 15.
Pinto, R., Patrício, J., Baeta, A., Fath, B. D., Neto, J. M. & Marques, J. C. 2009. Review and evaluation of estuarine biotic indices to assess benthic condition. Ecological Indicators, 9(1), 1-25. R Core Team. 2009. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, The R Foundation. ACB curves; hierarchical design and organic contamination Ocean and Coastal Research 2024, v72(suppl 1):e24033 14
Baudisch et al. Available from: http://www.R-project.org. Access date: 2013 Feb 15.
Rogers, S. I., Somerfield, P. J., Schratzberger, M., Warwick, R., Maxwell, T. A. & Ellis, J. R. 2008. Sampling strategies to evaluate the status of offshore soft sediment assemblages. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56(5), 880–894.
Salas, F., Neto, J., Borja, A. & Marques, J. 2004. Evaluation of the applicability of a marine biotic index to characterize the status of estuarine ecosystems: the case of Mondego estuary (Portugal). Ecological Indicators, 4(3), 215–225. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2004.04.003.
Schielzeth, H. & Nakagawa, S. 2013. Nested by design: model fitting and interpretation in a mixed model era. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 4(1), 14–24.
Semprucci, F., Frontalini, F., Covazzi-Harriague, A., Coccioni, R. & Balsamo, M. 2013. Meio-and macrofauna in the marine area of the Monte St. Bartolo Natural Park (Central Adriatic Sea, Italy). Scientia Marina, 77(1), 189–199.
Souza, F. M., Brauko, K. M., Lana, P. C., Muniz, P. & Camargo, M. G. 2013. The effect of urban sewage on benthic macrofauna: A multiple spatial scale approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 67(1), 234–240.
Strickland, J. D. H. & Parsons, T. R. 1972. A practical handbook of seawater analysis (2a ed, vol. 167). Ottawa, Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
Suguio, K. 1973. Introdução à Sedimentologia. São Paulo, Blücher, Edusp.
Taupp, T. & Wetzel, M. A. 2013. Relocation of dredged material in estuaries under the aspect of the Water Framework Directive—A comparison of benthic quality indicators at dumping areas in the Elbe estuary. Ecological Indicators, 34, 323–331.
Tweedley, J. R., Warwick, R. M., Hallett, C. S. & Potter, I. C. 2017. Fish-based indicators of estuarine condition that do not require reference data. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 191, 209–220.
Underwood, A. J., & Chapman, M. G. (2013). Design and Analysis in Benthic Surveys in Environmental Sampling. Methods for the Study of Marine Benthos, 1–45.
Varfolomeeva, M., & Naumov, A. 2012. Long-term temporal and spatial variation of macrobenthos in the intertidal soft-bottom flats of two small bights (Chupa Inlet, Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea). Hydrobiologia, 706(1),
–189.
Viana, A. P., Frédou, F. L. & Frédou, T. 2012. Measuring the ecological integrity of an industrial district in the Amazon estuary, Brazil. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 64(3), 489–499.
Warton, D. I. & Hui, F. K. 2011. The arcsine is asinine: the analysis of proportions in ecology. Ecology, 92(1), 3–10.
Warwick, R. M. 1986. A new method for detecting pollution effects on marine macrobenthic communities. Marine Biology, 92(4), 557–562.
Warwick, R. M. 1993. Environmental impact studies on marine communities: pragmatical considerations. Australian Journal of Ecology, 18(1), 63–80.
Warwick, R. M. & Clarke, K. R. 1991. A comparison of some methods for analysing changes in benthic community structure. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 71(1), 225–244.
Warwick, R. M. & Clarke, K. R. 1994. Relearning the ABC: taxonomic changes and abundance/biomass relationships in disturbed benthic communities. Marine Biology, 118(4), 739–744.
Warwick, R. M., Platt, H. M., Clarke, K. R., Agard, J. & Gobin, J. 1990. Analysis of macrobenthic and meiobenthic community structure in relation to pollution and disturbance in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 138(1), 119–142.
Warwick, R. M. & Pearson, T. H. 1987. Detection of pollution effects on marine macrobenthos: further evaluation of the species abundance/biomass method. Marine Biology, 95(2), 193–200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409005
Warwick, R. M., & Clarke, K. R. 1996. Relationships between body-size, species abundance and diversity in marine benthic assemblages: facts or artefacts? Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 202(1), 63–71.
Wentworth, C. K. 1922. A scale of grade and class terms for clastic sediments. The Journal of Geology, 30(5), 377–392.
Wetzel, M. A., Von Der Ohe, P. C., Manz, W., Koop, J. H. & Wahrendorf, D. S. 2012. The ecological quality status of the Elbe estuary. A comparative approach on different benthic biotic indices applied to a highly modified estuary. Ecological Indicators, 19, 118–129.
Wildsmith, M. D., Rose, T. H., Potter, I. C., Warwick, R. M. & Clarke, K. R. 2011. Benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of environmental deterioration in a large microtidal estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(3), 525–538.
Zajac, R. N., Vozarik, J. M. & Gibbons, B. R. 2013. Spatial and temporal patterns in macrofaunal diversity components relative to sea floor landscape structure. PloS one, 8(6).
Zhang, J., Zhang, S., Zhang, S., Du, Y. & Xu, F. 2016. What has happened to the benthic mollusks of the Yellow Sea in the near half century? Comparison on molluscan biodiversity between 1959 and 2007. Continental Shelf Research, 113, 21–29.
Zhang, Y., Wan, H., Zhao, Y., Ding, J., Zhu, Z., Zhang, H. & Liu, Z. 2023. Macrobenthic functional group analysis of ecological health of the intertidal artificial oyster reefs in the Yangtze Estuary, China. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1059353.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Ocean and Coastal Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Ocean and Coastal Research is an open-access journal available through SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online).
Ocean and Coastal Research journal title abbreviation is Ocean Coast. Res. and should be used in footnotes, references, and bibliographic entries.
All Ocean and Coastal Research scientific articles are freely available without charge to the user or institution. In accordance with the BOAI definition of open access, all contents are available to readers free of charge. Users may read, download, copy, and link to the full texts of the articles. They may be used for any lawful purpose without prior authorization from the publisher or the author, as long as proper credit is given to the original publication.
All Ocean and Coastal Research published scientific articles receive an individual Digital Object Identifier (DOI) persistent digital document identification.
All the content of the journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons License type BY. Authors retain the copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions.
More information on intellectual property can be found here and on Scielo's Open Acess Statement.
Ocean and Coastal Research is listed in Publons and reviewers and editors can add their verified peer review and editing history to their Publons profile.
Ocean and Coastal Research is indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and complies with principles of transparency and best practice for scholarly publications.
Ocean and Coastal Research is committed to the best standards in open-access publishing by adopting ethical and quality standards throughout the publishing process - from initial manuscript submission to the final article publication. This ensures authors that their work will have visibility, accessibility, reputation, usage, and impact in a sustainable model of scholarly publishing.
