Effects of nitrofurazone on ecosystem function in marine environments: A case study on microbial fauna

  • Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Nov;184:114216. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114216.
Uroosa  1 ,  Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Kazmi  1 ,  Alan Warren  2 ,  Xiaoxiao Zhong  3 ,  Henglong Xu  4
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Microbial Ecology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
  • 2. Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK.
  • 3. College of Chemical Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China.
  • 4. Department of Microbial Ecology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 36215761 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114216
Abstract

To evaluate the effects of nitrofurazone on functional processes in marine ecosystems, periphytic protozoan communities were exposed to different concentrations of the Antibiotic for a 10-day duration. Species trait distributions in the tested communities were observed during exposure to five concentrations of nitrofurazone. A fuzzy coding system with seven traits and seventeen categories was used to summarize the changes in functional patterns of the test organisms. Nitrofurazone had a significant influence on the function process of the periphytic ciliate communities. Bacterivores with flattened bodies were sensitive to the toxicant whereas sessile and cylindrical raptors showed a high tolerance to nitrofurazone, invariably dominating communities exposed to high concentrations. Bootstrapped-average analysis demonstrated a significant change in functional patterns at highest nitrofurazone concentrations (8 mg l-1). Based on these findings, it is suggested that nitrofurazone may negatively influence ecosystem function in marine environments.

Keywords
Bioassay; Ecosystem function; Marine ecosystem; Nitrofurazone; Periphytic protozoa.
Products