Dataset from article "Functional responses of filter feeders increase with elevated metal contamination: Are these good or bad signs of environmental health?”

This
datasheet contains the raw data for filtration and biodeposition rates by
mussels, biomass of macrofauna associated to mussel beds, metal concentration
in mussels and nutrient concentrations from water samples. The data was statistically
analyzed and published in the article "Functional responses of filter
feeders increase with elevated metal contamination: Are these good or bad signs
of environmental health?”, journal Marine Pollution Bulletin. Below is
the abstract of the article:

Fast
urbanization in coastal areas has increased the load of contaminants entering
estuaries worldwide, threatening the diversity and provision of services by
these important systems. Contamination causes structural changes in ecosystems,
but the consequences for their functioning are still overlooked. Here we
investigated filtration and biodeposition rates of the mussel Mytilaster solisianus across different
concentrations of metals, nutrients and suspended material, and levels of urbanization.
As expected, filtration rates increased with the number of particles in the
water column. However, in areas with low particle concentration, filtering
increased in mussels with higher metal concentrations (Cu/Zn/Ni), which were,
in turn, related to high urbanization. Similarly, biodeposition rates were
positively related to metal concentration in mussels. The increased functional
responses observed here is likely a symptom of stress, caused by potential
compensatory mechanisms to the energetic costs of cell maintenance and body
detoxification of mussels, rather than an indication of healthy
systems/organisms.