title: Benthic meiofauna community composition at polluted and non-polluted sites in New Zealand intertidal environments.
abstract: Meiofauna composition was investigated for six field sites, including polluted and non-polluted sites, within two regions (Auckland and Bay of Plenty) during winter (July-August 2004) in the North Island of New Zealand. Physico-chemical parameters were measured during the sampling period and meiofauna distribution and abundance were compared with these measured parameters. Analysis of meiofauna abundance indicated that foraminiferans, nematodes and ostracods were the taxa that contributed to the variability between field sites within the Auckland region. However, no clear taxa dominance was seen in the Bay of Plenty region. Comparison of meiofauna abundance and physico-chemical parameters was done using multivariate analysis (PRIMER). However, no clear relationships between the parameters were observed in any field site in either region. The Shannon-Weiner index of diversity did not show any clear differentiation between polluted and non-polluted field sites. Therefore, from the present study, the taxa or physico-chemical parameters used could not effectively characterise pollution at the investigated field sites.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies, Lincoln University, P.O. Box 84, Canterbury, New Zealand. hackl@landcareresearch.co.nz
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.forename: Louis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: Steve D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Wratten
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lister
authors.forename: Vaughan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Keesing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003445:Crustacea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D020387:Food Chain; D005843:Geography; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009348:Nematoda / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009520:New Zealand; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D013045:Species Specificity; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical