Nematode/copepod ratio and nematode and copepod abundances as bioindicators of pollution: a meta-analysis

Michel Sciberras; Agustín G. Menechella; Kevin A. Rucci; Néstor J. Cazzaniga; Hugo J. Marrero

doi:10.25260/EA.22.32.2.0.1840

Autores/as

Michel Sciberras Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
Agustín G. Menechella Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS). Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía (IADO), UNS-CONICET
Kevin A. Rucci Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). Instituto de Virología ‘Dr. J.M. Vanella’ (InViV), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC)
Néstor J. Cazzaniga Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS). Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC)
Hugo J. Marrero Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), UNS-CONICET

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.22.32.2.0.1840

Palabras clave:

análisis a escala global, metales pesados, materia orgánica, contaminación por petróleo, meiofauna marina, monitoreo

Resumen

La meiofauna ha sido considerada un grupo adecuado para monitorear los efectos de la contaminación. En base a diferencias en la tolerancia a la contaminación, se propuso el índice nematodo/copépodo como una herramienta sencilla para monitorear el efecto de las actividades antropogénicas. Aunque la validez de esta herramienta ha estado sujeta a discusión debido a resultados controversiales, todavía se la usa ampliamente. Para determinar si existe un patrón general en la respuesta del índice y de las abundancias de nematodos y copépodos a los efectos del enriquecimiento orgánico, la contaminación por petróleo y la presencia de metales pesados en el ambiente marino, realizamos un meta-análisis a escala global. La base de datos consistió en 715 pares de datos obtenidos a partir de 46 estudios publicados durante los últimos 39 años. No pudimos encontrar un patrón general en la respuesta de la abundancia de nematodos y copépodos. En cuanto al índice, la única diferencia significativa que encontramos fue bajo el efecto de la contaminación por petróleo. Sin embargo, esta diferencia parece ser un artefacto debido a un sesgo de publicación. La información obtenida en este estudio sugiere que tanto el índice como las abundancias medias no son buenas herramientas para el monitoreo ambiental.

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