The Response of Estuarine Macrobenthic Communities to Natural- and Human-Induced Changes: Dynamics and Ecological Quality |
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| Authors: | João Magalhães Neto Heliana Teixeira Joana Patrício Alexandra Baeta Helena Veríssimo Rute Pinto João Carlos Marques |
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| Institution: | (1) IMAR—Institute of Marine Research, c/o Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | Anthropogenic activities are a disturbance factor of coastal systems and can be widely recognized as a major threat to the
health of coastal systems. However, natural events cannot be disregarded from management issues because of their significant
influence on the communities living in these areas. Based on long-term subtidal data from the Mondego Estuary (Portugal),
the effects of natural events (e.g., floods and droughts) on macrobenthic communities were compared with the anthropogenic
events. Sampling stations were grouped into characteristic zones (mouth, north arm, south arm) so the community dynamics of
each of these estuarine areas could be followed over time. Environmental assessment was performed for stations using the Benthic
Assessment Tool (BAT), and compared with the existing pressures. Human impacts persist over a number of years and gradually
reduce ecosystem health, as discussed in the European Water Framework Directive. Paradoxically, natural events cause stronger
impacts but are of a shorter duration, which allows for a faster recovery of macrobenthic communities. The study showed that
caution should be taken when developing and implementing water policies so as not to disregard the importance of the different
events (natural and human-caused) on the ecosystem health (e.g., community degradation and water quality and ecological quality
status assessment). |
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