Meiofaunal and bacterial community response to diesel additions in a microcosm study
Journal article, 2012

Effects of low PAH-containing diesel were studied in a 60-day microcosm experiment at PAH concentrations 130, 1300 and 13,000 lg/kg sediment. Nutrient fluxes, potential nitrification and meiofaunal community composition were analysed at three time points. Changed PNOx-fluxes indicated reduced sediment nitrification in Medium and High with time, in agreement with lowered potential nitrification rates in all treatments. Reduction in silicate and phosphate fluxes over time suggested severe effects on activity of meiofauna. Reduced activity increased the anoxic sediment layer, which could have contributed to the changed PNOx-fluxes. There were significant differences in meiofaunal community composition after 30 and 60 days in Medium and High. Changes were due to increasing numbers of harpacticoids and the foraminiferan group Rotaliina, as well as decreasing numbers of Nematodes and the foraminiferan group Reophax. In spite of the low PAH-level, small additions of this diesel can still have pronounced effects on meiofaunal and bacterial communities.

Bacteria

Non-lethal effects

PAH

Nutrient fluxes

Meiofauna

Community response

Author

Fredrik Lindgren

Chalmers, Shipping and Marine Technology, Division of Maritime Operations

Ida-Maja Hassellöv

Chalmers, Shipping and Marine Technology, Division of Maritime Operations

Ingela Dahllöf

University of Gothenburg

Marine Pollution Bulletin

0025-326X (ISSN) 1879-3363 (eISSN)

Vol. 64 3 595-601

Subject Categories

Ecology

Biological Sciences

Pharmacology and Toxicology

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.12.014

More information

Created

10/7/2017