Changes in the composition and structure of Mediterranean rocky-shore communities following a gradient of nutrient enrichment: Descriptive study and test of proposed methods to assess water quality regarding macroalgae
Arévalo, R.; Pinedo, S.; Ballesteros, E. (2007). Changes in the composition and structure of Mediterranean rocky-shore communities following a gradient of nutrient enrichment: Descriptive study and test of proposed methods to assess water quality regarding macroalgae. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 55(1-6): 104-113. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.08.023 In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more Also appears in:Devlin, M.; Best, M.; Haynes, D. (Ed.) (2007). Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in European marine waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 55(Spec. Issue 1-6). Elsevier: Amsterdam. 297 pp., more |  |
| Keywords | Algae
Composition > Community composition
Indicators > Biological indicators
Nutrients (mineral)
Pollution > Water pollution
Waste disposal > Sewage disposal
Water quality
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | macroalgae; nutrient enrichment; biological indicators; European WaterFramework Directive; Mediterranean |
| Authors | | Top | - Arévalo, R.
- Pinedo, S.
- Ballesteros, E.
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| Abstract | Changes in the species composition and structure of Mediterranean macroalgal-dominated communities from the upper sublittoral zone are described along a gradient of nutrient enrichment coming from a urban sewage outfall. Ulva-dominated communities only appear close to the sewage outfall. Corallina-dominated communities replace ulvacean algae at intermediate levels of nutrient enrichment. Cystoseira-dominated communities thrive in the reference site but already appear at nutrient levels that are threefold higher than those reported from unpolluted sites. Assemblage variability of Cystoseira-dominated communities decreases along the gradient of nutrient enrichment. Methods based on the functional-form groups of macroalgae to assess the water quality provide equivocal results at intermediate levels of nutrient enrichment because species belonging to the same group can display a completely different response to pollution. Alternatively, methods based on indicator species showed correlated evidence among species abundances and pollution levels and seem to have better performances in water quality assessment. |
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