Article: Patterns of polychaete communities in relation to environmental perturbations in a subtropical wetland of Hong Kong

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TitlePatterns of polychaete communities in relation to environmental perturbations in a subtropical wetland of Hong Kong
AuthorsShen, PP1 2
Zhou, H3
Gu, JD1
Keywordsenvironmental stress
indicator
intertidal mudflat
polychaete
subtropical
Issue Date2010
PublisherCambridge University Press. The Journal's web site is located at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=MBI
CitationJournal Of The Marine Biological Association Of The United Kingdom, 2010, v. 90 n. 5, p. 923-932 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315410000068
AbstractBenthic polychaetes in the largest intertidal mudflat of Hong Kong were analysed for potentially stressed environmental conditions from pollution. Over a two-year period, a total of 14 species were recorded with the species diversity (H(log2)) ranged from 0.54 to 2.4. The community was dominated by two large polychaetes (Neanthes glandicincta and Potamilla acuminata) and a number of small pollution tolerant species (Tharyx, Capitella capitata and Prionospio cirrifera). It was also characterized by both temporal and spatial variations in terms of abundance and species composition with the lowest species number observed at onshore Station B in August and the highest at offshore Station D in February. Two distinct polychaete communities were formed along the intertidal towards subtidal mudflat, particularly the assemblage at onshore Station B showing a significant difference from those at the other three stations (P<0.05, N=32). Results of the abundance-biomass comparison (ABC) indicated a typical impacted community at the whole study area, especially at Station B which was close to the Shenzhen River mouth and mangrove forest. The total organic carbon had a significant positive effect on the abundance of Capitella capitata (P=0.037, N=8) while sedimentary compositions were statistically related to the abundance of Potamilla acuminata, Tharyx and total abundance of polychaetes (P<0.05, N=8). In conclusion, both the polluted Shenzhen River and nearby mangrove may be responsible for the decline in species richness and diversity as well as changes in community structure. Polychaetes can be used as the appropriate indicators in habitat ecological condition assessment instead of the whole benthic community. © 2010 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
ISSN0025-3154
2011 Impact Factor: 1.0
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.043
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315410000068
ISI Accession Number IDWOS:000280568300008
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government
Funding Information:

This study is part of the Baseline Ecological Monitoring Program for the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site supported by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government. We would like to thank the team members in our Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of the University of Hong Kong and the field working group of AFCD at Mai Po for logistic support on sampling transport and assistance. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication do not reflect the view of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorShen, PP
dc.contributor.authorZhou, H
dc.contributor.authorGu, JD
dc.date.accessioned2010-10-22T04:25:37Z
dc.date.available2010-10-22T04:25:37Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractBenthic polychaetes in the largest intertidal mudflat of Hong Kong were analysed for potentially stressed environmental conditions from pollution. Over a two-year period, a total of 14 species were recorded with the species diversity (H(log2)) ranged from 0.54 to 2.4. The community was dominated by two large polychaetes (Neanthes glandicincta and Potamilla acuminata) and a number of small pollution tolerant species (Tharyx, Capitella capitata and Prionospio cirrifera). It was also characterized by both temporal and spatial variations in terms of abundance and species composition with the lowest species number observed at onshore Station B in August and the highest at offshore Station D in February. Two distinct polychaete communities were formed along the intertidal towards subtidal mudflat, particularly the assemblage at onshore Station B showing a significant difference from those at the other three stations (P<0.05, N=32). Results of the abundance-biomass comparison (ABC) indicated a typical impacted community at the whole study area, especially at Station B which was close to the Shenzhen River mouth and mangrove forest. The total organic carbon had a significant positive effect on the abundance of Capitella capitata (P=0.037, N=8) while sedimentary compositions were statistically related to the abundance of Potamilla acuminata, Tharyx and total abundance of polychaetes (P<0.05, N=8). In conclusion, both the polluted Shenzhen River and nearby mangrove may be responsible for the decline in species richness and diversity as well as changes in community structure. Polychaetes can be used as the appropriate indicators in habitat ecological condition assessment instead of the whole benthic community. © 2010 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.
dc.description.natureLink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationJournal Of The Marine Biological Association Of The United Kingdom, 2010, v. 90 n. 5, p. 923-932 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315410000068
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0025315410000068
dc.identifier.epage932
dc.identifier.hkuros172626
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000280568300008
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government
Funding Information:

This study is part of the Baseline Ecological Monitoring Program for the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site supported by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government. We would like to thank the team members in our Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of the University of Hong Kong and the field working group of AFCD at Mai Po for logistic support on sampling transport and assistance. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication do not reflect the view of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

dc.identifier.issn0025-3154
2011 Impact Factor: 1.0
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.043
dc.identifier.issue5
dc.identifier.openurl
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-77958488343
dc.identifier.spage923
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/124083
dc.identifier.volume90
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherCambridge University Press. The Journal's web site is located at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=MBI
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.rightsJournal of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Copyright © Cambridge University Press.
dc.subjectenvironmental stress
dc.subjectindicator
dc.subjectintertidal mudflat
dc.subjectpolychaete
dc.subjectsubtropical
dc.titlePatterns of polychaete communities in relation to environmental perturbations in a subtropical wetland of Hong Kong
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong
  2. South China Seas Institute of Oceanography Chinese Academy of Sciences
  3. Ocean University of China