Macrobenthic assemblages of anthropogenically active subtidal zones contiguous to a marine protected area: a 9-year...

Traditional taxonomical methods, an appropriate Benthic Biotic Index incorporating the Taxonomical Sufficiency concept and Biological Traits Analyses, were applied concurrently to evaluate the long-term variations in the benthic ecology of subtidal zones of a Marine-Protected Area subjected to prevalent oil and gas industrial activities. Our evaluation spanned two comparable surveys conducted 9 years apart (2010 vs. 2019). Results indicated temporally consistent environmental factors, with exceptions noted in the bottom water dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and salinity. Hydrocarbon levels in water and sediments remained low and comparable between the two periods, aligning with defined baselines. Benthic studies indicated consistent taxonomical indices, polychaete family compositional changes, consistency in the relative proportion of functional trait modalities, significantly improved functional parameters, and prevalence of dominant k-selected sensitive traits. Moreover, the Benthic Opportunistic Polychaetes Amphipods index conferred a good to high ecological status to all stations in both years, reinforcing the continued favorable ecological quality of the area. Hence, it is surmised that the protectionary benefits of marine protected areas have extended to the subtidal zones as well.