Spatio-temporal variability in faunal assemblages surrounding the discharge of secondary treated sewage

dc.contributor.authorWear, R.
dc.contributor.authorTanner, J.
dc.date.issued2007
dc.descriptionCopyright © 2007 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
dc.description.abstractMacrofaunal assemblages inhabiting the intertidal zone surrounding an input of secondary treated effluent were sampled in order to determine how the pollution impact varied temporally and spatially. Assemblages varied along the pollution gradient formed by the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia. While the abundance of some species did not vary, the abundance of juvenile western king prawns (Melicertus latisulcatus) and blue crabs (Portunus pelagicus) progressively decreased with proximity to the outfall. Species richness and diversity also decreased towards the outfall. An increase in nutrient content in the water adjacent to the outfall is likely to explain these changes. At distances of 4 and 5 km away, species diversity increased and the abundance of M. latisulcatus decreased, possibly due to a change in habitat from sand to seagrass. The occurrence of a storm prior to sampling on one occasion masked the effects of pollution and habitat changes. The results of this study suggest that the disposal of treated effluent into Gulf St Vincent is having a localised effect on the faunal assemblages surrounding the discharge point. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityR.J. Wear and J.E. Tanner
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622823/description#description
dc.identifier.citationEstuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2007; 73(3-4):630-638
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.ecss.2007.03.008
dc.identifier.issn0272-7714
dc.identifier.issn1096-0015
dc.identifier.orcidTanner, J. [0000-0003-1361-3677]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/45625
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAcademic Press Ltd Elsevier Science Ltd
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2007.03.008
dc.titleSpatio-temporal variability in faunal assemblages surrounding the discharge of secondary treated sewage
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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