Development of macrofaunal communities on dredged material used for mudflat enhancement: a comparison of three beneficial use schemes after one year

Abstract

In recent years, dredged material has become regarded as a potential resource and used to create and/or improve intertidal habitats (‘beneficial use’ schemes). This paper presents the results of a sampling programme to investigate the short-term macrofaunal recovery of three beneficial use schemes in south-east England in terms of species and functional diversity. Environmental parameters (sediment redox potential, and water, organic carbon and silt/clay contents) and univariate community attributes (total individuals and species, diversity, evenness and biomass) at the recharge sites had attained reference levels at two schemes while assemblages differed significantly in terms of species composition at all three schemes. While trophic group proportionality had re-established at one scheme, an increased grazer dominance was apparent at another while the proportion of sub-surface deposit feeders decreased at the third. Total individuals and species number of the developing communities were negatively correlated with sediment redox potential at 4 cm and % silt/clay, respectively. The implications of these results for monitoring the recovery of future fine-grained beneficial use schemes are discussed.