Relative impacts at sites of dredged-material relocation in the coastal environment: a phylum-level meta-analysis approach

P.J. Somerfield; M. Atkins; S.G. Bolam; K.R. Clarke; E. Garnacho; H.L. Rees; R. Smith; R.M. Warwick

doi:10.1007/s00227-005-0168-1

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Relative impacts at sites of dredged-material relocation in the coastal environment: a phylum-level meta-analysis approach

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Relative impacts at sites of dredged-material relocation in the coastal environment: a phylum-level meta-analysis approach

P.J. Somerfield, M. Atkins, S.G. Bolam, K.R. Clarke, E. Garnacho, H.L. Rees, R. Smith and R.M. Warwick

Marine Biology, Vol.148(6), pp.1231-1240

2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0168-1

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Abstract

Phylum-level meta-analysis was applied to 192 samples from a variety of dredgings disposal and relocation sites around the coast of England and Wales. No consistent relationship was found between the disturbance status of macrobenthic communities within disposal sites and the nature or amount of dredgings disposed. Differences between samples within and outside disposal sites were generally smaller than differences between different sites and various patterns of impact were detected. It is concluded that dredgings disposal has two contrasting impacts on benthic communities. One, associated with organic enrichment, leads to communities dominated by annelids and nematodes. The other, associated with intense physical disturbance, favours large motile or armoured forms, such as bivalve molluscs and crustaceans. These effects may act antagonistically, and in a phylum-level meta-analysis may cancel each other out. None of the samples examined from offshore disposal sites was grossly disturbed, in terms of the proportional contribution to production from different phyla, and overall most samples ranged from moderately disturbed to undisturbed. The ecological impacts associated with the intertidal placement of material (beneficial use schemes) were comparable to those observed for the conventional sea disposal sites.

Details

Title: Relative impacts at sites of dredged-material relocation in the coastal environment: a phylum-level meta-analysis approach
Authors/Creators: P.J. Somerfield (Author/Creator) - Plymouth Marine Laboratory
M. Atkins (Author/Creator) - Plymouth Marine Laboratory
S.G. Bolam (Author/Creator) - Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
K.R. Clarke (Author/Creator) - Plymouth Marine Laboratory
E. Garnacho (Author/Creator) - Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
H.L. Rees (Author/Creator) - Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
R. Smith (Author/Creator) - Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
R.M. Warwick (Author/Creator) - Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Publication Details: Marine Biology, Vol.148(6), pp.1231-1240
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Identifiers: 991005543329007891
Copyright: © Springer-Verlag 2005.
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.605 Benthic Biodiversity
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science