Effects of subtle pollution at different levels of biological organisation on species-rich assemblages

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

M Rubal (Author) FCUP; Puri Veiga (Author) Other; Pedro A Reis (Author) Other; Iacopo Bertocci (Author) Other; Isabel Sousa Pinto (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Environmental Pollution

Vol. 191

Pages: 101-110

ISSN: 0269-7491

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 15 Citations

Scopus - 16 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-BEH

DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.04.019

Abstract (EN): We investigated effects of subtle nutrient enrichment and metal pollution on different levels of biological organization (i.e. whole assemblage, population and individual) of species-rich assemblages. We used rockpools as model system, applying a multi-factorial sampling design to test hypotheses on differences between disturbed and reference locations. Results indicated that disturbed and reference locations supported similar assemblages, as well as individual fitness-related life-traits were ineffective to discriminate between the two conditions. In contrast, assemblages responded to pollution through a reduction of the abundance of sensitive species and a proliferation of tolerant species, although these alterations were detectable only once the influence of dominant taxa was down-weighed by data transformation. Present findings suggest that, contrarily to individual level variables, assemblage structure after data transformation and patterns of distribution and abundance of differently sensitive taxa would be a powerful tool to detect effects of subtle pollution on species-rich assemblages.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10