title: The use of time-series data in the assessment of macrobenthic community change after the cessation of sewage-sludge disposal in Liverpool Bay (UK).
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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Burnham on Crouch Laboratory, Remembrance Avenue, Burnham on Crouch, Essex CM0 8HA, UK. P.Whomersley@cefas.co.uk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whomersley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schratzberger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huxham
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012722:Sewage; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage