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Published on: September 5, 2018
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Assessing benthic ecological impacts of bottom aquaculture using macrofaunal assemblages
Lu Wang1, Ying Fan1, Cunjun Yan1
1College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China.
Marine Pollution Bulletin
|September 27, 2016
Summary
Manila clam bottom aquaculture negatively impacts macrofaunal assemblages. However, sensitive ecological quality indices like AMBI and M-AMBI show low disturbance from this bivalve farming method.
Area of Science:
- Marine Ecology
- Aquaculture Science
- Benthic Ecology
Background:
- Bottom aquaculture of bivalves, including Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum), is a growing global practice.
- The ecological effects of this high-yield shellfish farming method on benthic ecosystems remain incompletely understood.
- Assessing these impacts is crucial for sustainable marine resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the ecological impacts of Manila clam bottom aquaculture on benthic macrofaunal assemblages.
- To compare the effectiveness of different biotic indices in assessing ecological quality under slight disturbance.
- To determine the suitability of AMBI and M-AMBI for evaluating bivalve bottom aquaculture impacts.
Main Methods:
- Macrofaunal assemblages and Manila clam abundance were surveyed across six sites in Jiaozhou Bay, China, over four sampling periods (2011-2012).
- Correlation analysis was employed to examine relationships between clam abundance and macrofaunal community structure.
- Ecological quality was assessed using several biotic indices, including polychaete/amphipod ratios, AZTI'S Marine Biotic Index (AMBI), and Multivariate AZTI Marine Biotic Index (M-AMBI).
Main Results:
- A significant negative correlation was observed between Manila clam abundance and macrofaunal assemblages.
- Despite negative correlations, several biotic indices indicated a low level of disturbance attributed to Manila clam bottom aquaculture.
- The study found that AMBI and M-AMBI were more sensitive in detecting ecological quality changes under slight disturbance compared to polychaete/amphipod ratios.
Conclusions:
- Manila clam bottom aquaculture exerts a negative influence on benthic macrofaunal communities.
- AZTI'S Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and Multivariate AZTI Marine Biotic Index (M-AMBI) are more appropriate for assessing ecological quality in subtly disturbed environments, such as bivalve bottom aquaculture.
- These findings support the use of AMBI and M-AMBI for effective ecological monitoring of bivalve aquaculture operations.
