The interplay between habitat structure and chemical contaminants on biotic responses of benthic organisms.

ABSTRACT: Habitat structure influences the diversity and distribution of organisms, potentially affecting their response to disturbances by either affecting their 'susceptibility' or through the provision of resources that can mitigate impacts of disturbances. Chemical disturbances due to contamination are associated with decreases in diversity and functioning of systems and are also likely to increase due to coastal urbanisation. Understanding how habitat structure interacts with contaminants is essential to predict and therefore manage such effects, minimising their consequences to marine systems. Here, we manipulated two structurally different habitats and exposed them to different types of contaminants. The effects of contamination and habitat structure interacted, affecting species richness. Mo

SUBMITTER: Mayer-Pinto M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4860324 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature