Unraveling the performance of the benthic index AMBI in a subtropical bay: The effects of data transformations and exclusion of low-reliability sites

Author(s)

Checon, Helio H. ^[1] ; Corte, Guilherme N. ^[1] ; Muniz, Pablo ^[2] ; Brauko, Kalina M. ^[3] ; Di Domenico, Maikon ^[4] ; Bicego, Marcia C. ^[5] ; Siegle, Eduardo ^[5] ; Figueira, Rubens C. L. ^[5] ; Amaral, A. Cecilia Z. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, Monteiro Lobato St 255, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ La Republ, Inst Ecol & Ciencias Ambientales, Igua 4225, Montevideo 11400 - Uruguay

^[3] Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Dept Geociencias, BR-88040900 Florianopolis, SC - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Parana, Ctr Estudos Mar, Pontal Do Parana, Parana - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin; v. 126, p. 438-448, JAN 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between the AMBI index and different contamination proxies in an urbanized bay in South America (SE Brazil), and the effect of (a) abundance data transformation and (b) exclusion of low reliability sites (high SD; low N) on the index' performance. Poor ecological quality and opportunistic species were related to an increase in contaminants concentrations and mud content. Good ecological status and sensitive species (EG I) were mainly related to increased hydrodynamics. Data transformation caused minimal changes to the overall relationships, but exclusion of low-reliability sites improved the relationship between ecological groups and contamination proxies. Our results show that AMBI is robust in detecting effects of different contaminants in the area and reinforce the importance of the index as a tool for coastal management, but local joint efforts are needed to improve and adjust local species classification in ecological groups to improve the index' performance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/10810-8 - Benthic ecology of Araçá Bay: analysis of fauna associated with sediment and relationship environment/biodiversity
• Grantee: Guilherme Nascimento Corte
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 11/50317-5 - Biodiversity and functioning of a subtropical coastal ecosystem: a contribution to integrated management
• Grantee: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants