title: Effect of historical contamination in the fish community structure of a recovering temperate coastal lagoon.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the impact of trace element concentrations in fish assemblages of a recovering coastal lagoon. Fish, water and sediment were sampled in winter and summer in the Ria de Aveiro (Portugal). Multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship between fish assemblages and environmental variables (physical-chemical parameters, contaminants and sediment grain size). In winter, fish density and biomass were mainly affected by the water turbidity, while Li concentration in the water column was found to be significant for fish biomass. During summer, a significant relationship was found between fish density and temperature, Hg, Li and Zn concentration in the sediment. These contaminants were mainly associated with the historically contaminated area, were Liza spp. and Dicentrarchus labrax appeared as dominant species. Environmental variables were not significant for fish biomass. The historical contamination in the Ria de Aveiro still seems to exert some influence on fish community structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: evagseoane@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Seoane
authors.affiliation: CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Rua das Bragas, 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mieiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dolbeth
authors.affiliation: CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Eduardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rebelo
authors.affiliation: CESAM & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eduarda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass; D018533:Biomass; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008094:Lithium; D008628:Mercury; D011174:Portugal; D023701:Smegmamorpha; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015032:Zinc
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008094:Lithium; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Coastal lagoon; Fish assemblage; Ria de Aveiro; Trace metals