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Spatial and temporal dynamics in macrobenthos during recovery from salmon farm induced organic enrichment: when is recovery complete?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 21:49 authored by Keeley, NB, Catriona MacLeodCatriona MacLeod, Hopkins, GA, Forrest, BMThis study documents eight years of benthic recovery at a highly impacted salmon farm. Substantial recovery occurred in the first 2 years, and was assessed to be complete after ~5 years. However, minor differences were still evident, along with some on-going benthic instability, attributable to medium-scale spatial movements and successional patterns of macrobenthos. Quantifying the endpoint of 'recovery' proved challenging due to: lack of a widely accepted definition, inherent variability in recovering sediments, differing trajectories of impact and reference sites, and statistical challenges. More complex biotic indices and metrics incorporating multiple variables were the most robust indicators. Statistical tests for 'parallelism' in the trajectories of Cage and Reference sites proved useful, but results were contingent upon how the method was applied, and should therefore be used in conjunction with data-visualisation methods. The study highlights the importance of a predetermined recovery endpoint, and using multiple indicators and a weight-of-evidence assessment approach.
History
Publication title
Marine Pollution BulletinVolume
80Issue
1-2Pagination
250-262ISSN
0025-326XDepartment/School
Institute for Marine and Antarctic StudiesPublisher
Pergamon-Elsevier Science LtdPlace of publication
The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Ox5 1GbRights statement
Copyright 2013 ElsevierRepository Status
- Restricted