A microcosm experiment was conducted to examine the effects of the pharmaceutical (penicillin G) on free living nematode communities of a Tunisian coastal zone (South-Western Mediterranean Sea). Sediments were contaminated with five penicillin G dose [D1 (3 mgL(-1)), D2 (30 mgL(-1)), D3 (300 mgL(-1)), D4 (600 mgL(-1)), D5 (700 mgL(-1))], and effects were examined after 30 days. Results showed significant differences between nematode assemblages from undisturbed controls and those from penicillin G treatments. Most univariate measures, including diversity (H'), species richness (d), equitability (J) and number of species (S) decreased significantly with increasing level of the antibiotic contamination. Results from multivariate analyses of the species abundance data demonstrated that responses of nematode species to the penicillin treatments were varied: Kraspedonema octogoniata and Paracomesoma dubium were eliminated at all the antibiotic doses tested and seemed to be intolerant species to penicillin G contamination; Oncholaimus campylocercoides although survived even the highest dose D5, showed definite reduction in its abundance and may be classified as "opportunistic" species at this dose, whereas, Nannolaimoides decoratus which showed a positive response with an increase in density even at highest concentration of contaminant, seems to be "penicillin G resistant" species.
Keywords: Contamination; Free living nematodes; Microcosms; Penicillin G; Sediment.
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