title: Effects of increasing levels of pharmaceutical penicillin G contamination on structure of free living nematode communities in experimental microcosms.
abstract: A microcosm experiment was conducted to examine the effects of the pharmaceutical (penicillin G) on free living nematode communities of a Tunisian coastal zone (South-Western Mediterranean Sea). Sediments were contaminated with five penicillin G dose [D1 (3 mgL(-1)), D2 (30 mgL(-1)), D3 (300 mgL(-1)), D4 (600 mgL(-1)), D5 (700 mgL(-1))], and effects were examined after 30 days. Results showed significant differences between nematode assemblages from undisturbed controls and those from penicillin G treatments. Most univariate measures, including diversity (H'), species richness (d), equitability (J) and number of species (S) decreased significantly with increasing level of the antibiotic contamination. Results from multivariate analyses of the species abundance data demonstrated that responses of nematode species to the penicillin treatments were varied: Kraspedonema octogoniata and Paracomesoma dubium were eliminated at all the antibiotic doses tested and seemed to be intolerant species to penicillin G contamination; Oncholaimus campylocercoides although survived even the highest dose D5, showed definite reduction in its abundance and may be classified as "opportunistic" species at this dose, whereas, Nannolaimoides decoratus which showed a positive response with an increase in density even at highest concentration of contaminant, seems to be "penicillin G resistant" species.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia. Electronic address: a7mednas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasri
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Soufiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jouili
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boufahja
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hedfi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ezzeddine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aïssa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Naceur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Essid
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta (FSB), 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerta, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hamouda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beyrem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009348:Nematoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010400:Penicillin G
keywords: Contamination; Free living nematodes; Microcosms; Penicillin G; Sediment