We compared the structure of a seagrass fish assemblage near a sewage outlet before and after improvements to wastewater treatment. To determine whether responses by the fish assemblage were due to changes in water quality or to other factors, comparisons were made with the structure of a fish assemblage from a nearby site unaffected by sewage effluent. Total species richness, density and biomass of fish, decreased at both sites over the 30-year period. An increase in mean trophic level near the sewage outlet following improvements in water quality indicated that wastewater treatment had another important effect. This result is consistent with the reductions in food webs supporting pelagic and benthic fishes that typically accompany decreases in nutrient inputs. Although improvements to wastewater treatment explained much of the variation in the structure of the fish assemblage at PC, our results also suggest that fishing and climate change, at both sites. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Fish assemblages
- Sewage impact
- Trophic structure
- Posidonia oceanica seagrass
- Mediterranean Sea
- POSIDONIA-OCEANICA BEDS
- JUVENILE SPARID FISHES
- MEDITERRANEAN SEA
- TREATMENT-PLANT
- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
- SEWAGE POLLUTION
- ECOSYSTEMS
- COMMUNITY
- VARIABILITY
- HABITATS
[Ourgaud, M.; Ruitton, S.; Harmelin-Vivien, M. L.] Toulon Univ, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD,MIO UM 110, F-13288 Marseille 09, France; [Bell, J. D.] Univ Wollongong, Australian Natl Ctr Ocean Resources & Secur, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; [Letourneur, Y.] Univ Nouvelle Caledonie, Lab LIVE, Noumea 98851, New Caledonia; [Letourneur, Y.] Univ Nouvelle Caledonie, LABEX Corail, Noumea 98851, New Caledonia; [Harmelin, J. G.] Aix Marseille Univ, GIS Posidonie, Stn Marine Endoume, F-13007 Marseille, France; [Harmelin, J. G.] Aix Marseille Univ, MIO, Stn Marine Endoume, F-13007 Marseille, France
Ourgaud, M (reprint author), Toulon Univ, Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD,MIO UM 110, F-13288 Marseille 09, France.
- Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanographie (MIO), UMR7294
- Unité mixte de service Pythéas (PYTHEAS), UMS3470