Benthic macrofauna of the New York Bight, 1979-89. Technical report

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5865848

Reid, R N; Radosh, D J; Frame, A B; Fromm, S A

The benthic macrofauna of the New York Bight has been monitored extensively, primarily to determine trends over space and time in biological effects of waste inputs. In the present study, from 44 to 48 stations were sampled each summer from 1980-1985. Data from other Bight benthic studies are included to extend the temporal coverage from 1979 to 1989. Numbers of species and amphipods per sample, taken as relatively sensitive indicators of environmental stress, showed consistent spatial patterns. Lowest values were found in the Christiaensen Basin and other inshore areas, and numbers increased toward the outermost shelf and Hudson Shelf Valley stations. Preliminary data from a more recent study suggest numbers of species increased again between 1986 and 1989. Causes of the faunal changes are not obvious; some possibilities, including increasing effects of sewage sludge or other waste inputs, natural factors, and sampling artifacts, are discussed.

• Research Organization: National Marine Fisheries Service, Highlands, NJ (United States). Sandy Hook Lab.
• OSTI ID: 5865848
• Report Number(s): PB-92-133792/XAB; NOAA-TR-NMFS-103
• Resource Relation: Other Information: See also PB83-152116 and PB90-173915
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BENTHOS
SENSITIVITY
NEW YORK BIGHT
WATER POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
DEPTH
INVERTEBRATES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SAMPLING
SEWAGE SLUDGE
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
WASTE DISPOSAL
WEATHER
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
DIMENSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MID-ATLANTIC BIGHT
POLLUTION
SEAS
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
SURFACE WATERS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology