The effects of copper pollution on fouling assemblage diversity: a tropical-temperate comparison.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The invasion of habitats by non-indigenous species (NIS) occurs at a global scale and can generate significant ecological, evolutionary, economic and social consequences. Estuarine and coastal ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to pollution from numerous sources due to years of human-induced degradation and shipping. Pollution is considered as a class of disturbance with anthropogenic roots and recent studies have concluded that high frequencies of disturbance may facilitate invasions by increasing the availability of resources.

Methodology/principal findings

To examine the effects of heavy metal pollution as disturbance in shaping patterns of exotic versus native diversity in marine fouling communities we exposed fouling communities to different concentration

SUBMITTER: Canning-Clode J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3060921 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature