Abstract
The relationship between the abiotic environment and the structure of macrozoobenthos was studied in shallow bays of the southwestern Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Sea, that were impacted by a moderate oil spill in 2006. Seabed sediment characteristics, depth, and wave exposure best explained the structure of benthos. Statistical analyses did not show explicit effects of oil on benthos. The decrease in the abundance of Bathyporeia pilosa and Macoma balthica may be related to the oil, but it would be speculative to attribute this pattern solely to the spill without a proper before- after-control-impact (BACI) design with several control locations. Our study clearly showed that in the case of accidental environmental impacts like oil pollution it is impossible to apply a proper setup of the BACI design. This leads to difficulties in distinguishing between the effects of natural environmental factors and oil on the biota. The study also advocates for needs of alternative methodologies in order to effectively assess the impacts of accidental anthropogenic disturbances on benthic communities.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.