We assessed the performance of taxonomic and several functional trait-based approaches in the assessment of spatial and temporal patterns of dusky flounder () parasite assemblages along the Yucatan shelf to determine their potential as bioindicators of marine chemical pollution. Fish specimens were collected throughout three research cruises that took place in 2015, 2016 and 2018. In addition to the traditional taxonomic approach, four trait-based approaches were performed including community-weighted means (CWM), functional trait niche (FTN), functional groups (FGs), and Rao's functional diversity (FD). Significant spatial and temporal variations in parasite communities were detected using the taxonomic approach. In general, these variations were also reflected in the four trait-based approaches performed, indicating that changes in taxa composition and abundance also resulted in functional composition shifts. Resemblance matrices of both taxonomic and functional trait approaches were significantly correlated. Variations in taxonomic and trait-based composition using the four approaches were significantly correlated with depth, and at least one chemical pollutant variable. Feeding mode, transmission, life stage and attachment structure displayed spatial variability and significant correlations with predictor variables, which indicates that this set of attributes functions as a good surrogate for assessing variations in the functional composition of flatfish parasite communities in relation to pollution. FTN and CWM were the approaches that best detected spatio-temporal variation. CWM and FD were best suited for detecting pollution gradients. These results reveal the feasibility of using trait-based approaches to assess marine parasite communities as bioindicators of chemical pollution. Functional traits of marine metazoan parasites are as good indicators of the effect of oil pollution as taxonomic diversity. This may be a time-saving and cost-effective approach to performing environmental assessments.

中文翻译：

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分类学和基于性状的方法在评估暗色比目鱼寄生虫群落作为化学污染指标方面的表现

我们评估了分类学和几种基于功能性状的方法在评估尤卡坦大陆架暗色比目鱼（）寄生虫组合的空间和时间模式方面的表现，以确定它们作为海洋化学污染生物指示剂的潜力。在 2015 年、2016 年和 2018 年进行的三次研究航行中收集了鱼类标本。除了传统的分类方法外，还采用了四种基于性状的方法，包括群落加权平均值 (CWM)、功能性状生态位 (FTN)、功能性状群体（FG）和 Rao 的功能多样性（FD）。使用分类学方法检测到寄生虫群落的显着空间和时间变化。一般来说，这些变化也反映在所执行的四种基于性状的方法中，表明类群组成和丰度的变化也导致了功能组成的变化。分类学和功能性状方法的相似矩阵显着相关。使用四种方法的分类学和基于性状的组成的变化与深度和至少一种化学污染物变量显着相关。摄食模式、传播、生命阶段和附着结构显示出空间变异性以及与预测变量的显着相关性，这表明这组属性可以作为评估与污染相关的比目鱼寄生虫群落功能组成变化的良好替代指标。 FTN 和 CWM 是最能检测时空变化的方法。 CWM 和 FD 最适合检测污染梯度。这些结果揭示了使用基于性状的方法评估海洋寄生虫群落作为化学污染生物指示剂的可行性。海洋后生动物寄生虫的功能特征与分类多样性一样是石油污染影响的良好指标。这可能是一种节省时间且具有成本效益的环境评估方法。