Distribution and classification of macrozoobenthos in Peter the Great Bay of Japan Sea in relation to contamination of bottom sediments

Abstract

Distribution of 211 species and larger taxa of benthic animals is considered along the gradient of chemical contamination in bottom sediments (by TPF index) on the data of long-term observations (1992–2019), using hierarchical Hausman-Olf-Fresco logistic regression models. Frequency of occurrence and density in settlements are used as the quantitative measures of the macrozoobenthos distribution. Parameters of the species relation to contamination are determined, as mean coordinate of the response curves, position of the optimum, and width of the outer and central niches. By these parameters, using the fuzzy sets algorithm, the taxa are classified to five groups: i) extremely sensitive; ii) highly sensitive; iii) moderately tolerant; iv) tolerant; and v) extremely tolerant to pollution (ES, S, MT, T and ET, respectively). Both stenobionts, steno-eurybionts and eurybionts are presented in each group, but the stenobionts dominate in ES and S groups and the eurybionts prevail in T and ET groups, being the opportunists of the II and I order, while the taxa of different biontity are equally presented in MT group. The classification could be used for interpretation of changes in composition and structure of macrozoobenthos in the areas subjected to anthropogenic pollution.