The use of time-series data in the assessment of macrobenthic community change after the cessation of sewage-sludge disposal in Liverpool Bay (UK)

Whomersley, P; Schratzberger, M; Huxham, M; Bates, H; Rees, H

Abstract

Sewage sludge was disposed of in Liverpool Bay for over 100 years. Annual amounts increased from 0.5 million tonnes per annum in 1900 to approximately 2 million tonnes per annum by 1995. Macrofauna and a suite of environmental variables were collected at a station adjacent to, and a reference station distant from, the disposal site over 13 years, spanning a pre- (1990–1998) and post- (1999–2003) cessation period. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the time-series data showed significant community differences between reference and disposal site stations and multivariate analyses revealed station-specific community development post-disposal. Temporal variability of communities collected at the disposal station post-cessation was higher than during years of disposal, when temporally stable dominance patterns of disturbance-tolerant species had established. Alterations of community structure post-disturbance reflected successional changes possibly driven by facilitation. Subtle faunistic changes at the Liverpool Bay disposal site indicate that the near-field effects of the disposal of sewage sludge were small and therefore could be considered environmentally acceptable.

Citation

Whomersley, P., Schratzberger, M., Huxham, M., Bates, H., & Rees, H. (2007). The use of time-series data in the assessment of macrobenthic community change after the cessation of sewage-sludge disposal in Liverpool Bay (UK). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(1), 32-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.07.008

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Sep 18, 2006
• Publication Date: 2007-01
• Deposit Date: Dec 7, 2016
• Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin
• Print ISSN: 0025-326X
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-3363
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 54
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 32-41
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.07.008
• Keywords: Aquatic science; Pollution; Oceanography; Marine ecology
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/450092