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EFFECTS OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS ON MARINE BENTHIC BIOTA AND COMMUNITIES
Citation:
Scott, K. EFFECTS OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS ON MARINE BENTHIC BIOTA AND COMMUNITIES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/A-94/001 (NTIS PB94135183), 1989.
Description:
Our understanding of the effects of contaminants on benthic organisms lags well behind that for water column species because of the way in which sediments mediate bioavailability and because test protocols using infaunal organism are still in the developmental stage. lthough quantitative analyses of benthic communities continue to be a primary assessment tool, their interpretation as to contaminant effects remains difficult, especially under conditions of moderate contamination. t is, therefore, important to determine how sediment contaminants affect lower levels of biological organization. ontaminant effects have been described for subcellular, cellular, tissue, whole organism, and population level systems in benthic organisms. he routine application of these responses has been limited, however. here is a critical research need to develop test protocols that address chronic effects and bioaccumulation in both short- and long-lived benthic organisms. uch methodologies would allow for the effective interpretation of changes in benthic communities in response to contamination and the significance of the community in food chain transfer of sediment contaminants.