One Step forward: Benthic Pelagic Coupling and Indicators for Environmental Status

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 23;10(10):e0141071. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141071. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

A large data set from the Eastern Mediterranean was analyzed to explore the relationship between seawater column variables and benthic community status. Our results showed a strong quantitative link between the seawater column variables (Chlorophyll a and Eutrophication Index) and various indicators describing benthic diversity and community composition. The percentage of benthic opportunistic species increased significantly in the stations with high trophic status of the seawater column and so did the strength of the coupling between values of seawater column and benthic indicators. The Eutrophication Index threshold level of 0.85, separating the "Bad and Poor" from "Moderate to High" conditions could serve as an acceptable critical value above which there is a readily observable change in benthic community composition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodiversity
  • Chlorophyll / analysis*
  • Chlorophyll A
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical
  • Ecosystem
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Eutrophication*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Nitrogen / analysis
  • Phosphorus / analysis
  • Seawater / chemistry*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Chlorophyll
  • Phosphorus
  • Nitrogen
  • Chlorophyll A

Grants and funding

1. The study was part of the “HYPOXIA” project funded by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology in the framework of the “ESPA 2007-2013: Aristeia II” program (http://www.gsrt.gr/central.aspx?sId=108I334I1181I646I445335&olID=758&neID=759&neTa=9_320&ncID=0&neHC=0&tbid=0&lrID=2&oldUIID=aI758I0I108I334I1181I0I2&actionID=load). The first author acknowledges the support by the “A. G. Leventis Foundation Scholarships Programme” (https://www.leventisscholarships.org/). 2. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript