Submarine outfall and new sewage treatment plant modulate the response of intertidal benthic communities in a SW Atlantic area.

Spatio-temporal responses of the intertidal macrobenthic community to the effects of a submarine outfall (SO) and a new sewage treatment plant (EDAR) were evaluated, analyzing changes in macrofaunal assemblages and community structure. Study was conducted in a SW Atlantic coastal area in 4 stages: B (Before the SO), Du (During the construction of the SO), A (After the SO start-up) and A (After the treatment plant start-up). Boccardia proboscidea and Brachidontes rodriguezii contributed most to the differences between all stages at the site nearest to the discharge point.

Submarine outfall effect on subtidal macrobenthic communities in a southwestern Atlantic coastal city.

Submarine outfalls are an effective alternative for the final discharge of wastewater. The aim was to evaluate the subtidal macrobenthic community's responses and the changes in bottom sedimentary dynamics due to submarine outfall (SO) location. Sampling stages were: before SO (B), after SO (A) and after treatment plant (A).

Pollution has negative effects on macrozoobenthic trait diversity in a large subtropical estuary.

Changes in species composition and relative abundance caused by pollution might have an impact on the community dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Macrobenthos are widely used as indicators of marine environmental health due to their sensitive to disturbance. The present study aims to evaluate spatial and temporal variability of functional diversity of macrobenthos of the Montevideo and Canelones coastal zone along a pre-established pollution gradient, based on Biological Traits Analysis, and functional diversity indices.

The boom-bust dynamic of the invader Boccardia proboscidea mediated by sewage discharge: The response of the intertidal epilithic community in the Southwest Atlantic.

Biological invasions produce an invader population boom but are often followed by an invader population bust. The decrease of the invader abundance ends with the coexistence of native species and the invader or with repeated boom and bust events. In the southwest Atlantic, the polychaete Boccardia proboscidea invaded the coasts influenced by sewage discharge.

Functional diversity in the intertidal macrobenthic community at sewage-affected shores from Southwestern Atlantic.

Sewage pollution effect in a coastal area of the Southwestern Atlantic was tested, through the use of analysis of biological traits (BTA) and functional indices. Changes in the macrobenthic functional structure between the sewage outfall site and remote sites were observed. At the site in the discharge point, functional features related to organic enrichment were observed, such as deposit feeders, burrow dwellers and inhabitants of tubes, with low relative mobility and opportunistic species of the first and the second order.

Effect of the invader Boccardia proboscidea (Polychaeta: Spionidae) on richness, diversity and structure of SW Atlantic epilithic intertidal community.

In Mar del Plata (Argentine, SW Atlantic), a large seaside resort, the sewage discharges impact the littoral ecosystem. The invader polychaete Boccardia proboscidea has developed reefs since spring of 2008. The effect of this species on the richness, diversity and structure of epilithic intertidal community was assessed through an MBACI design in both sewage-impacted and reference sites, and Before/After the invasion.