Original paper
Benthic macroinfauna in a polluted English estuary
Oyenekan, Joseph A.
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 111 Number 4 (1988), p. 585 - 599
20 references
published: Feb 11, 1988
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/111/1988/585
ArtNo. ESP141011104008, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The benthic macroinfauna of Southampton Water, in Southeast England was studied by bimonthly sampling between July 1978 and March 1980. The study area covered 600 hectares of the sublittoral zone of the estuary. Four selected stations were sampled bimonthly within the study period. Seasonal changes in the physico-chemical and biological parameters were studied to assess factors affecting the distribution and abundance of major faunal species. Polychaetes were numerically dominant, Caulleriella being dominant on the eastern side and mouth of the estuary and Capitella, on the western side. Diversity and faunal indices measured showed the community to be unstable, and physically controlled, with greater stress on the western side. The community of the study area compares well with a typical Macoma community, with Mercenana and Crepidula replacing Macoma balthica. The effects of pollutants such as hydrocarbons and sediment metals on the community are discussed.
Keywords
macroinfauna • Southampton Water • bimonthly • physico-chemical • biological