application of abundance biomass curve in ecological...
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Application of Abundance Biomass Curve in Ecological Health Assessment of Khure-Mussa
(Northwest of the Persian Gulf)
Dehghan-Madiseh, Simin1*; Nabavi, Seyed Mohammad Bagher2; Ghofleh-Marammazi, Jasem1; Jahani, Najmeh1; Koochaknejad, Emad1
1- Department of Ecology, South of Iran Aquaculture Research Center, Ahvaz, IR Iran 2- Deputy of Marine Environment, Department of Environment, Tehran, IR Iran
Received: May 2011 Accepted: December 2011
© 2012 Journal of the Persian Gulf. All rights reserved.
Abstract Khuzestan coastal waters have high fisheries potential and ecological importance. Since different sources of stress exist in this area, the present study was conducted to evaluate ecological quality and to determine health status in Khuzestan coastal sediments based on benthic communities and their biological parameters. Seasonal sampling was done from 20 creeks of Khur-e-Mussa area in Khuzestan coastal waters by 0.125 m2 Peterson grabsampler during winter 2008 to autumn 2009. Macro–invertebrates were separated, sorted and identified to the lowest possible taxon. In addition, biological parameters such as diversity, richness, biomass and abundance were calculated. The results were analyzed using univariate analysis method, ABC (Abundance–Biomass Curve). The most abundant groups were polychaets (58%), crustaceans (25%) and mollusk (9%), respectively. The ABC plots showed that majority ef creeks could be classified as moderately disturbed and polluted. The ranges of H' diversity index values in majority of stations indicated moderate ecological status.
Keywords: ABC (Abundance-Biomass Curve), Benthic communities, Khur-e-Mussa area, Khuzestan coastal waters
1. Introduction
Macrobenthic studies have achieved a fundamental
role in estuarine and marine impact assessment and
marine management. Because marine macrobenthic
invertebrates usually exhibit well-defined responses to
environmental change, especially those stressors which
influence the sediment structure (McLusky and
Elliott, 2004).
Many researches have been carried out attempting
to detect different stressors as result of environmental
deterioration by using benthic communities in the
coastal areas of the world (Gray and Wu, 2002;
Borja et al., 2000; Muxika et al., 2003; Simboura,
2003; Borja et al., 2004; Borja and Muxika, 2005). In last two decades, the study of marine
communities has benefited from the use of so-called
graphical/distributional representations (Warwick
and Clarke, 1991; Warwick, 1993), such as the
Abundance–Biomass Comparison (ABC method)
(Warwick 1986; Warwick et al. 1987). This method
is conceptually intermediate between univariate and
multivariate approaches, and in contrast with
multivariate analyses It has the advantage that a
value judgment can be compared with results
Journal of the Persian Gulf
(Marine Science)/Vol. 3/No. 7/March 2012/9/1-10
reg
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ould be dete
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eviously kn
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mpact of fish
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omparison (
acrobenthic
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00) but a
aluation in K
dices (Dehgh
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ality in twen
Khuzestan
ethod was u
ntaminant w
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Clarke, 1991
method is a
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86). This m
hat in undis
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munities, do
ividuals, th
the biomass
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1999). The u
ermined in d
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nown (McM
Rossi 1998).
nd his collea
heries on de
nce curves
(ABC) curv
abundance
have been c
few studie
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han-Madiseh
this study w
nty tidal cree
coastal wate
used to deter
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n moderate
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utility of the
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Manus and
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agues (2005)
emersal fish
and Abunda
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and diversi
carried out (
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h 2008; Dosts
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Madiseh et al.
ontrol locatio
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istributions
ons (Warwic
based on th
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(one or mo
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ata (Warwic
plied to oth
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1999; Stento
e ABC mod
bitates and f
ording to i
c data seri
Pauly 199
d Inejih (200
) assessed th
h assemblag
ance Bioma
al studies o
ity in Khur
(Nabavi 199
ne on heal
different biot
shenas 2009)
uate ecologic
-e-Mussa are
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Tw
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macr
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Fig. (2008SemaShipp16-Kh19- K
FosieveorganseparusingCarpwere
A
Biom
Marg
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ces in this ar
fisheries activ
many types of
Materials and
wenty creek
hwest of the
onal samplin
mn 2009. T
robenthos stu
nic matter (
(0.125 m2).
1: The locatio8-09) 1-Ghanamaili 7-oil stationping station 13hure-mussa (1)
Khure-Mussa(4)
or macrobented through anisms wererated to the g: Barnes 1penter and Nie counted and
bundance (
mass (g/m2),
galef richnes
e Biomass Cu
rea such as, r
vity, several
industries.
d Methods
ks in Khu
e Persian Gu
ng was carried
Three replic
udying, grain
(TOM) were
on of studied m 2-Patil 3-Bihn 8-Odleh 9-Ja3-Ahmadi 14-P) 17- Khure-M 20- Khure-Mu
thos study, saa 0.5 mm me removedlowest anim987; Jones iem1998; Ste
d weighted.
(number of
diversity (S
ss indices w
urve in Ecolog
riverine inpu
out falls and
ure-Mussa a
ulf were stud
d out from wi
cates of ea
n size analy
e obtained
creeks in Khuhad 4-Ghazale afari 10-Zangi Petrochemy sta
Mussa(2) 18- Kussa(5)
amples were mesh screen . Macroben
mal taxonomic1986; Hutc
errer1986) an
f individual
Shannon-Wie
were calculate
gical Health…
uts, shipping
d discharging
area in the
died (Fig. 1).
inter 2008 to
ach site for
sis and total
by Peterson
ure-Mussa area5-Majidieh 6-
11-Doragh 12-ation 15-MaaviKhure-Mussa(3)
immediatelyand benthic
nthos werec groups (bychings 1984;nd all species
l per m2),
ener H') and
ed. For each
g
g
e
.
o
r
l
n
a --i )
y c e y ; s
,
d
h
station, do
biomass we
(Warwick 1
in order of
of abundan
using PRIM
the abundan
W-statistic (
and an even
for undistur
grossly dis
also were c
equation:
Where B
Ai is the rel
the number
using SPSS
3. Results
The orga
sediments
95.59%, res
Fig. 2: Variatiin Khure-Mus
The lo
KhureMuss
(10.90) and
ominance c
ere obtained
1986). In the
importance
nce or bioma
MER statistica
nce curve an
(Yemane et a
n abundance d
rbed, and the
sturbed. The
computed fo
Bi is the relati
lative abunda
r of species
14 software
anic matter
were 10.57
spectively (F
ion of total orgsa creeks
owest perc
sa 3 (10.57)
d the highes
curves for
d following t
e method, sp
based on pe
ass. The plot
al software.
nd the bioma
al., 2005). Bi
distribution g
e reverse case
e W-statistic
or each case
ive biomass
ance of the it
s. ANOVAs
e.
and silt-cla
7 to 29.75%
Fig. 2).
ganic matter and
centage va
), Patil (10.
st percentage
Journal
abundance
the ABC me
pecies are ra
ercent domin
ts were prod
The area bet
ass curve is c
iomass domin
gives a value
e a value of -
cs (Clarke 1
by applyin
of the ith spe
th species and
were calcu
ay percentag
% and 63.6
d silt-clay perc
alues were
80) and So
e values we
l of the Persia
3
and
ethod
anked
nance
duced
tween
called
nance
of +l
-1 for
1990)
ng the
ecies,
d S is
ulated
ge of
60 to
entage
e in
omaili
ere in
D
M
A
si
si
d
A
d
(P
b
id
C
N
S
ab
T
m
P
M
in
F
b
(p
Fi
in
an Gulf (Marin
Doragh (29.7
Majidie (21.5
ANOVA of
ignificant dif
ignificant d
ifferent cree
ANOVA sho
ifferent cre
P<0.05), how
etween seaso
In total, 28
dentified in
Crustacean (3
Nemertean,
eapens and
bundance an
Table 1. The p
macrobenthic fa
Taxa APolychaeta Crustacea Mollusca Seapen Others
Means of
n different s
Figures 3 and
Two way A
etween creek
p<0.05).
ig. 3: Variation
n different seaso
ne Science)/Vo
75), Ghazale
59) and Ship
f silt-clay
fference betw
differences
eks (P<0.05
wed no sign
eeks based
wever, there
ons (P<0.05)
8 faunal grou
ncluding Po
32 families)
Echinoderm
Bryozoans.
nd biomass (T
percentage of t
auna in Khure-M
Abundance (%58.06 24.82 9.35 5.24 2.53
macrobentho
seasons and
4, respective
ANOVAs sh
ks and season
n of macrobenth
ons (2008-2009
Vol .3/No. 7/Ma
eh (24.30),
pping-st. (19
percentages
ween season
were obse
5). In addit
nificant diffe
on total o
were signific
).
ups of benthi
olychaetes
), Mollusca
mata, Echiu
Each group
Table 1).
total biomass
Mussa creeks
%) Taxa Seapen
MolluscaPolychaetCrustacea
os abundanc
creeks are
ely.
howed signifi
ns based on m
hic means abun
9)
March 2012/9/1
Zangi (21.8
9.46). Two w
s showed
ns (P<0.05),
erved betw
tion, two w
erence betw
organic ma
cant differen
ic animals w
(25 famili
(23 famili
ura, Tunica
p differed in
and abundance
Biomass (%94.24
a 2.61 ta 2.08 a 1.07
ce and biom
represented
icant differen
mean abunda
ndance and biom
1-10
80),
way
no
but
een
way
een
atter
nces
were
ies),
ies),
ates,
its
e of
%)
mass
d in
nces
ance
mass
Dehghan-Madiseh et al. / Application of Abundance Biomass Curve in Ecological Health…
4
Fig. 4: Variation of macrobenthic means abundance and biomass in different creeks (2008-2009)
The creeks also showed significant differences based
on biomass (p<0.05). Figures 5a and 6a, show the
results of clustering of the stations using Bray-Curtis
index for similarities based on macrobenthic abundance
and biomass. MDS ordination confirmed the results of
cluster (Figs. 5b and 6b). Majority of creeks showed
above 85% similarity for abundance and above 80% for
biomass. The range of diversity and Richness indices
values were (1.95 to 3.58) and (14 to 33), respectively.
The range of Shannon diversity index was 1.95( in
Shipping-st) to 3.58 (for Patil).
Fig. 5: Cluster (a) and MDS (b) analysis based on Bray-Curtis similarity for macrobenthos abundance in different creeks
Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .3/No. 7/March 2012/9/1-10
5
Fig. 6: Cluster (a) and MDS (b) analysis based on Bray-Curtis similarity for macrobenthos biomass in different creeks
The Shannon index value was above 3 in
Ghannam, Bihad, Odelleh, Jafary, Zangy, Ahmady,
Petrochem-st, Kh-Mussa (3), and Kh-Mussa (5).
Patil had the highest richness value (33) and the
lowest value (14) was in Oil station, Khure-Mussa
(3), and Kh-Mussa (4), and Kh-Mussa (5). Two-way
ANOVAs based on Richness and Shannon index
values, showed only significant differences for
Richness values (P<0.05). ABC curves were
obtained for all creeks. With few representative plots
of the environmental conditions observed in different
creeks presented in Figure 7. W index values were
positive and near zero for all creeks.
4. Discussion
According to the grain size analysis and TOM
content, it is clear that all creeks were characterized
by soft muddy bottom. The difference between
TOMs of different creeks was not significant.
However, the high amount of organic matter in
sediments (10.758-29.75) could be related to changing
seasonal condition. In addition, physical factors such
as prevailing water currents and instability of surface
sediments can also lead to variation of TOM.
Percentages of TOM sediments in all studied creeks
were above EPA standard (EPA, 2002). Studied creeks
showed significant differences between biological
parameters (abundance and richness) values due to
differences in benthic community structure. Significant
differences between seasons showed that there were
seasonal variations in macro-benthic communities in
this area. This temporal variation could have occurred
due to obvious seasonal changes in physico-chemical
and biological parameters in this area (Sabzalizadeh
and Nilsaz, 1996; Nilsaz et al., 2005).
Dehghan-Madiseh et al. / Application of Abundance Biomass Curve in Ecological Health…
6
Fig. 7: Selection of ABC plots of samples representatives of different conditions within the region. (a: Petrochemical
St; b: Zangy; c: Odelleh; d: Kh-mussa(4); e: Kh-mussa(5); f: Shipping St.) (□ biomass, Δ abundance)
Some biological characteristics like, longevity, reproduction strategy, depth of habitat, trophic level and also fishing pressure exert important influence in variation of frequency, succession and diversity of macrobiotic species (Little, 2000). The seasonal means of diversity index in the present study are less than its reported value in Khuzestan coastal waters (Nilsaz et al., 2005). It is probably due to dominance of opportunistic species such as Capitella sp,Cossura sp, and Chaetozone sp, which contributed to lower diversity index values. However, some evidence indicated that macrobenthic responses differed between metal contamination and organic enrichment. For example, metal contamination could detrimentally affect all taxa, whereas organic enrichment could only favor certain opportunistic taxa (Rygg, 1986; Wilson and Jeffrey, 1994).
Based on (H') diversity index values, all creeks are classified in poor and declining ecological status according to WFD (European Water Framework
Directive) water quality assessment classification (cited in Borja et al., 2003).
W index values in all creeks were positive and near zero, which suggested the moderate ecological status in all studied creeks. The low value of W and crossings between most of the curves led to classifying these stations as moderately perturbed. According to the abundance-biomass curves, some variations could be observed.
The creeks (Jafari, Zangi) and Petrochem stations showed more signs of disturbance condition, the creeks Bihad, Ghazaleh, Doragh, Semaili, Majidieh, Odleh, Ahmadi, Maavi, Oil station and Kh-mussa(4) showed moderate disturbed condition, and the Kh-mussa(1), Kh-mussa(2), Kh-mussa(3), Kh-mussa(5), Shipping station, Patil and Ghannam showed less disturbed condition. The last groups mostly were located in Khure-Mussa channel or placed outside the embayment of Mahshahr creeks. Mahshahr creeks could be affected by many probable pollution
Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)/Vol .3/No. 7/March 2012/9/1-10
7
sources. In general, according to ABC plots, the most creeks in Khure-Mussa area showed moderate pollution status.
The ABC curve is widely used for the detection of pollution effects on macrobenthos communities (Warwick, 1986; Warwick et al., 1987; Clarke, 1990). High similarity index values could emphasize the same ecological status based on macrobenthic animals in studied areas. In unpolluted systems, with a high evenness and several large-bodied species, the biomass curve will fall well above that for abundance, the reverse being true for heavily polluted situations dominated by high numbers of small species (Adams, 2002).
As a result of different types of exploitation,
industrial and shipping activities in Khure- Mussa
area, unbalanced and moderate ecological status for
sediment quality are expected. Khure-Mussa creeks
are characterized by sever water exchanges in their
base; This and with predominantly silt-clay sediment,
high rate of sedimentation might also be a major
factor in benthic animals fluctuation. For better
evaluation, chemical and biological monitoring is
necessary.
Adjusted SAB (Species-Abundance-Biomass)
relationships varied in their details with respect to
different classes of sediment contamination, but all
types of SAB stress appear to exhibit similar basic
characteristics. Moreover, rapid decrease in the B/A
ratio with increasing contamination supported the
concept that relatively long-lived, large-bodied,
equilibrium taxa decline markedly at high
concentration of toxicants (Rakocinski et al., 2000).
Acknowledgment
The authors are grateful for funding from
Department of Environment of Iran.
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