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Impacts of permethrin contamination on nematode density and diversity: A microcosm study on benthic meiofauna from a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

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Abstract

A microcosm experiment was used to examine the response of nematode in terms of density and diversity at different levels of permethrin contamination. The sediments were contaminated with three permethrin concentrations [P1: low (5 mg kg−1), P2: medium (25 mg kg−1) and P3: high (250 mg kg−1)] and the effects were evaluated after 30 days. The results from univariate and multivariate analyses showed significant differences between nematode assemblages from uncontaminated control and those from permethrin treatments. All univariate indices changed significantly at all the levels of permethrin contamination. In fact, the total nematode abundance (I), Shannon-Weaner index (H′), species richness (d), evenness (J′) and number of species (S) decreased significantly in all the contaminated microcosms. In addition, the results from multivariate analyses of the species abundance data demonstrated that permethrin affects the responses of nematode species. These significant modifications in nematode community structures with response to permethrin contamination were the consequences of a different specific tolerance to this pesticide. Thus, Araeolaimus bioculatus, Calomicrolaimus honestus, Oncholaimus campylocercoides and Theristus pertenuis characterized by increased abundances in all treated replicates, appeared to be “permethrin-resistant” species. Daptonema trabeculosum was eliminated in all the doses tested and seemed to be a very sensitive species to permethrin contamination.

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  1. Laboratory of Environment Biomonitoring, Coastal Ecology and Ecotoxicology Unit, University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerta, 7021, Zarzouna, Tunisia

    Amel Soltani, Hela Louati, Amel Hanachi, Fida Ben Salem, Naceur Essid, Patricia Aissa, Ezzeddine Mahmoudi & Hamouda Beyrem

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  1. Amel Soltani
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  2. Hela Louati
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  3. Amel Hanachi
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  4. Fida Ben Salem
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  7. Ezzeddine Mahmoudi
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Correspondence to Ezzeddine Mahmoudi.

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Soltani, A., Louati, H., Hanachi, A. et al. Impacts of permethrin contamination on nematode density and diversity: A microcosm study on benthic meiofauna from a Mediterranean coastal lagoon. Biologia 67, 377–383 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-012-0021-1

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