Ecosystem engineering potential of the gastropod Terebralia palustris (Linnaeus, 1767) in mangrove wastewater wetlands--a controlled mesocosm experiment.
The effect of different sewage concentrations (0, 20, 60 and 100%), vegetation (Bare, Avicennia marina or Rhizophora mucronata) and immersion periods (immersion/emersion period of 12/12 h or 3/3 days just for 100%) conditions were studied for 6 months on survival and growth rates of Terebralia palustris (Linnaeus, 1767). Gastropods' activity and ecosystem engineering preformed at bare and A. marina planted cells and 3 sewage conditions (0, 20 and 60%) were determined. Survival rates were higher than 70% in all treatments. Growth rate decreased significantly with increasing sewage concentrations (mainly at unplanted conditions) and longer immersion periods. A complete shift (from immersion to emersion periods) and a significant decrease in mobility and consequently its engineer potential, due to sewage contamination, lead to a 3-4 fold decrease in the amount of sediment disturbed. Sewage contamination, primary producers' abundance and environmental conditions may have influenced the gastropods survival, growth and its ecosystem engineering potential.
Penha-Lopes
Gil
G
Centro de Oceanografia - Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida N(a), Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal. gil.penha-lopes@biology-research.com
Bartolini
Fabrizio
F
Limbu
Samwel
S
Cannicci
Stefano
S
Mgaya
Yunus
Y
Kristensen
Erik
E
Paula
José
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D017753:Ecosystem; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000187:drug effects*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D053833:Wetlands
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical