Opportunistic macroalgae metrics for transitional waters. Testing tools to assess ecological quality status in Portugal

Patrício, Joana; Neto, João M.; Teixeira, Heliana; Marques, João Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.08.003

Cited by 20 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Another example could be found when comparing the Mondego northern and southern arms' meiofauna assemblages. The different types of environmental impacts in the northern and southern Mondego branches were extensively described in previous studies (Marques et al , 2007; Patrício et al , 2007; Teixeira et al , 2008). The northern arm has mainly experienced physical disturbance (stonewalls construction and regular dredging) and no eutrophication symptoms have been detected so far.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Spatial distribution of subtidal meiobenthos along estuarine gradients in two southern European estuaries (Portugal)

et al. 2009

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The spatial variation in abundance and composition of subtidal meiobenthos communities was studied in two Portuguese estuaries under distinct degrees of anthropogenic pressure. Samples were collected from 20 sampling stations along both estuarine gradients from freshwater (<0.5) to euhaline areas (>30). Of these stations 11 were located in the Mondego estuary, a system exposed to high anthropogenic stress, and 9 in the Mira estuary, a naturally stressed system located inside the Natural Park ‘Costa Vicentina’ (south-western coast of Portugal).Total meiobenthos density was higher in the Mira estuary and in both estuaries the community was dominated by nematodes. Among the twelve taxa identified in the Mira estuary, Harpacticoid copepods and Polychaeta were the second and the third most abundant groups respectively. In the Mondego estuary, Polychaeta was the second while Harpacticoid copepods was the third most abundant group in the thirteen total taxa recorded.Estuarine gradients of salinity, particles size and water nutrients were clearly detected in both estuaries and there was significant spatial heterogeneity in abundance and composition of the subtidal meiobenthos communities along these environmental gradients. Accordingly, three distinct sections were identified in both estuaries: (i) freshwater sections, where total density, and density of nematodes and Harpacticoid copepods reached minimum values; (ii) oligohaline and mesohaline sections, where the total density was low and diversity was poor; and (iii) polyhaline and euhaline sections, where both total density and diversity reached the highest values.The similar spatial distribution of meiobenthos assemblages in both estuaries suggests that natural stressors may be the major factors controlling the physicochemical conditions that determine meiobenthos community patterns. The mesoscale variability of subtidal meiobenthos density and composition within estuaries (in the order of kilometres) seems to be more important than the variability between estuaries (at the scale of hundreds of kilometres), a common feature in intertidal systems. From the management point of view, these results, based on higher taxa resolution, represent an obvious constraint to the applicability of ecological quality evaluation tools.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Spatial distribution of subtidal meiobenthos along estuarine gradients in two southern European estuaries (Portugal)

et al. 2009

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“…However, very few of the above-mentioned methods have been validated or used out of the countries using the method. Hence, the ecological evaluation index (EEI) has been used in other countries of the Mediterranean (as an exam ple, see Orlando-Bonaca et al, 2008 in Slovenia); the opportunistic macroalgal blooms approach has been used in Portugal (Patricio et al, 2007); and the rapid quality index (R-MaQI) has been validated in Venice Lagoon (Sfriso et al, 2009). Probably this lack of validation, due to the incipient use in estuarine quality assessment, is one of the most important weaknesses of such indices.…”

Section: Macroalgaementioning

confidence: 99%

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Borja¹,

Basset²,

Bricker³

et al. 2011

Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science

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There is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components. Provided for non-commercial research and educational use.Not for reproduction, distribution or commercial use.This chapter was originally published in Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science, published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for noncommercial research and educational use including without limitation use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues who you know, and providing a copy to your institution's administrator.All other uses, reproduction and distribution, including without limitation commercial reprints, selling or licensing copies or access, or posting on open internet sites, your personal or institution's website or repository, are prohibited.For exceptions, permission may be sought for such use through Elsevier's permissions site at: Author's personal copy AbstractThere is an increasing need in assessing ecological quality and integrity of estuaries and lagoons. This chapter shows the most recent efforts in assessing individual biological elements (from phytoplankton to fishes), together with the integrative tools developed in different geographical areas worldwide. However, reducing complex information from multiple ecosystem elements to a single color or value is a substantial challenge to marine scientists, and requires the integration of different disciplines (chemists, engineers, biologists, ecologists, physics, managers, etc.), to reach agreement on the final assignment of ecological status. Hence, in the near future, emphasis needs to be directed at understanding the complexities of estuarine system functioning rather than simplifying and scaling down the system into smaller components.

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“…The WFD identifies the use of macroalgae as biological indicators with the goal of maintaining and improving aquatic environments (Soltan et al, 2001;Pinedo et al, 2007;Patrício et al, 2007;Juanes et al, 2008). For the implementation of the WFD, some ecological quality indices were suggested, such as the Greek EEI-c index (Orfanidis et al, 2001(Orfanidis et al, , 2011 and the Spanish index CARLIT (cartography of littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky communities) proposed by Ballesteros et al (2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological Quality Status of the Algiers coastal waters by using macroalgae assemblages as bioindicators (Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

2018

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Macroalgal assemblages have been used as a quality element for the assessment of the ecological status classes (ESCs) in coastal water bodies for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC). To assess the suitability of this quality element in the coastal waters off Algiers, seven sampling sites with five (5) replications covering a wide range of anthropogenic pressures were studied during spring and summer 2015. Coverage data for the macroalgae at each sampling site were analyzed at the biological levels of species, i.e., structural (species number, nMDS, clustering, K-dominance and Simper analysis based on Bray-Curtis similarity), and ecological status groups, i.e., functional (nMDS, clustering, K-dominance, ecological evaluation index/EEI-c). Key water variables (temperature, salinity and pH) along with the anthropogenic stress index MALUSI were also estimated. The obtained results revealed a significant effect of anthropogenic stress on the macroalgal assemblages. The structural analysis showed the following: (1) species richness of 86 taxa in total; (2) dominance of Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta (late-successional) associated with Lithophyllum incrustans and Jania rubens at nonimpacted sites and with Ulva rigida, Ulva intestinalis and Caulerpa cylindracea (opportunistic) species at impacted sites; and (3) a higher proportion of low-abundance species in polluted communities than in less polluted communities. The functional analysis showed the following: (1) classification of sites based on multivariate and K-dominance analyses into four groups, three in agreement with the water degradation information and one in agreement with a low salinity influence; (2) classification of sites into "bad", "high", "moderate" and "good" ESCs based on the EEI-c index; and (3) a strong nonlinear relationship (R²=0.85) of the EEI-c index with the MALUSI index. Therefore, the EEI-c index will be a suitable tool to implement a national monitoring program within the scope the WFD along Algerian coasts.

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Opportunistic macroalgae metrics for transitional waters. Testing tools to assess ecological quality status in Portugal

Cited by 20 publications

References 33 publications

Spatial distribution of subtidal meiobenthos along estuarine gradients in two southern European estuaries (Portugal)

Spatial distribution of subtidal meiobenthos along estuarine gradients in two southern European estuaries (Portugal)

Classifying Ecological Quality and Integrity of Estuaries

Ecological Quality Status of the Algiers coastal waters by using macroalgae assemblages as bioindicators (Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

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