ISSN:
1573-5125
Schlagwort(e):
intertidal and subtidal soft-sediment macrofauna
;
salinity gradient
;
abundance and species composition
;
organic waste
Quelle:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Thema:
Biologie
Notizen:
Abstract The intertidal and subtidal soft-sediment macrofauna of the upper Forth estuary, eastern Scotland, UK has been examined. The intertidal fauna was sampled in 1977, and again in 1988/89, at up to twelve stations along the salinity gradient. The subtidal fauna was sampled in 1982 and in 1988/89 at up to 15 stations. The stations span the region of the freshwater-seawater interface, and area of the turbidity maximum. Large spatial and temporal variations in macrofaunal abundance and species composition were observed. Sites at the head of the estuary with low salinity were dominated by oligochaetes, but more saline areas were characterised by a depauparate estuarine fauna. The area has historically received large quantities of organic waste both from sewage and industrial discharges which supported very high abundances of oligochaetes of up to 500,000 m−2 in the upper reaches of the estuary. Reductions in the organic inflow to the area since the early-1980's have begun to cause reductions in oligochaete populations and also allowed the further penetration intertidally of non-oligochaete species into the upper and middle reaches of the estuary. No comparable upstream penetration by the non-oligochaete subtidal fauna has been observed, possibly on account of the greater sediment instability in the estuary's main channel.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02334773
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