Effects of organic pollution on biological communities of marine biofilm on hard substrata.
We examined the effect of organic enrichment on diatom and bacterial assemblages of marine epilithic biofilms on two locations in the Mediterranean, one situated in Spain and the other in Greece. Total organic carbon, total organic nitrogen, stable isotopes (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) and chlorophyll a indicated significant incorporation of organic wastes, increased primary production and trophic niche modifications on the biofilms close to the organic enrichment source. In Spain, where the organic load was higher than in Greece, diatom and, to some extent, bacterial assemblages varied following the organic enrichment gradient. The taxonomic richness of diatom and bacterial communities was not influenced by organic enrichment. Classical community parameters showed consistent patterns to organic pollution in both locations, whereas community assemblages were only influenced when organic pollution was greatest. The successional patterns of these communities were similar to other epilithic communities. The modification of community assemblages induced by organic pollution may affect ecological functions.
Biology Department, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: carsanz@ua.es.
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Sanz-Lázaro
Biology Department, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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Fodelianakis
Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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Guerrero-Meseguer
Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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Marín
Biology Department, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
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Karakassis
D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D058448:Biota; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis*; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D006115:Greece; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain
D002734:Chlorophyll; D009584:Nitrogen; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
Aquaculture; Bacteria; Coastal anthropogenic impacts; Diatom; Ecological succession