Seasonal variability in biological trait pattern of biofilm-dwelling protozoa in colonization surveys for marine bioassessment

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 160; p. 111604
• Main Authors: Gui, Yuying, Bai, Xiaoyun, Zhong, Xiaoxiao, Sikder, Mohammad Nurul Azim, Xu, Henglong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Autumn; Biofilms; Bioindicators; biological assessment; Biological trait; Biological traits; China; Coastal zone; coasts; Colonization; Dynamics; Functional diversity; Geographical distribution; Indicator organisms; Indicator species; Marine biology; marine pollution; Polls & surveys; Protozoa; Seasonal variability; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Spring; Spring (season); Summer; Surveys; Trait distribution; Water quality; Winter; Yellow Sea; Yellow Sea; China; Seasonal variability; Trait distribution; Biological trait; Functional diversity; Water quality
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111604

Biological trait analysis (BTA) has been proved to be a powerful tool to evaluate marine water quality. The species trait distributions of biofilm-dwelling protozoa were studied in a coastal region of the Yellow Sea, northern China, during a four-season cycle. The BTA demonstrated that: (1) the protozoa showed a significant seasonal variability in biological trait pattern during the colonization process across four seasons; (2) the colonization dynamics in species trait distribution followed different temporal models; (3) the functional dynamics in spring and summer were significantly different from those in autumn and winter (P < 0.05); and (4) functional diversity showed lower values in spring and summer than in autumn and winter. These findings suggest that BTA is subject to a high seasonal variability during colonization surveys when protozoa are used as bioindicators of marine water quality. •The protozoa represented a significant seasonal variability in biological trait pattern.•The species trait distribution followed different models in colonization process.•The functional diversity was lower in spring and summer than in autumn and winter.•There was a high seasonal variability in colonization surveys for bioassessment.