title: Macrobenthic community response to copper in Shelter Island Yacht Basin, San Diego Bay, California.
abstract: We examined Cu contamination effects on macrobenthic communities and Cu concentration in invertebrates within Shelter Island Yacht Basin, San Diego Bay, California. Results indicate that at some sites, Cu in sediment has exceeded a threshold for "self defense" mechanisms and highlight the potential negative impacts on benthic faunal communities where Cu accumulates and persists in sediments. At sites with elevated Cu levels in sediment, macrobenthic communities were not only less diverse but also their total biomass and body size (individual biomass) were reduced compared to sites with lower Cu. Cu concentration in tissue varied between species and within the same species, reflecting differing abilities to "regulate" their body load. The spatial complexity of Cu effects in a small marina such as SIYB emphasizes that sediment-quality criteria based solely on laboratory experiments should be used with caution, as they do not necessarily reflect the condition at the community and ecosystem levels.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Oceanography Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0218, USA. cneira@coast.ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neira
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zirino
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delgadillo-Hinojosa
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Porrachia
authors.forename: Dimitri D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Deheyn
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D033304:Amphipoda / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D044822:Biodiversity; D049628:Body Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002140:California; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011156:Population Density; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper