Effects of trace metals on infaunal species composition in polluted intertidal and subtidal marine sediments near a lead smelter, Spencer Gulf, South Australia

摘要: The infauna of intertidal and subtidal marine sediments at 18 sites near a large lead-zinc smelter In Spencer Gulf, South Australia, was sampled twice about 6 mo apart. habltats were bare mudflats, seagrass [Zostera sp.) beds, (Posidonia spp.) unvegetated sedlments 5 to 10 m depth. Infauna consisted 372 identifiable taxa, malnly polychaetes, molluscs crustaceans. number taxa each site time showed no s~mple relationship with the concentrations trace metals sediments, habitat type or sampling. However, patterns distribution, analysed uslng frequencies occurrence derlved from mult~variate classification ordination techniques, related sediment As, Cu, Mn, Pb, Sb Zn. extremely high these elements (probably mainly Pb Zn) appeared affect both abundances distribution many infaunal species. multivariate techniques could detect which species affected in most metal-polluted (the sites). less-polluted sites, composition detected but only few individual be unambiguously correlated presence metals. polluted had some highest metal ever recorded (Pb up 5270 pg g-' Zn 16700 g-'), supported 42 taxa. polychaetes Heteromastus filiformis, Capitella 'capitata' Glycera americana, crustacean Tanais dulongii very abundant sites; they apparently can selectively exploit metalcontaminated conditions. C. 'capitata'and 7 found almost exclusively sites. contrast. 15 spccicb crustaceans 4 elsewhere study area. representing 26, 20, 17"% respectively, not No tdxonomic select~vity effects amongst 3 major groupspolychaetes, dnd Future studies may, therefore, able sample indicator one groups determine spatial extent ecological monitor this