Recolonisation of translocated metal-contaminated sediments by estuarine macrobenthic assemblages.

摘要: A recolonisation experiment was performed using sediments from three locations (Nords Wharf, Cockle Bay and Warners Bay) along a metal contamination gradient (Lake Macquarie, Australia). The study aimed to determine whether the source of would influence benthic assemblages, providing additional information regarding ecological risks associated with more contaminated sediments. Sediments were translocated two within lake retrieved after 22 weeks samples surrounding (ambient). Total abundance greater in reference treatment Wharf), this difference being driven by polychaetes, especially capitellids. In general, univariate metrics similar among recolonised treatments, although evenness diversity patterns complex due significant location-treatment interactions. PERMANOVA analysis demonstrated that Nords Wharf treatments significantly different (Cockle Warner’s ambient no differences detected assemblages. Collectively, findings showed influenced composition described approach powerful tool for examining effects location-specific under environmentally relevant conditions.