title: The impact of organic pollution on the macrobenthic fauna of Dubai Creek (UAE).
abstract: Dubai Creek is a tidal marine intrusion bisecting Dubai within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The creek extends 14km inland from its opening into the Arabian Gulf, with a narrow lower creek channel leading to a lagoon section in the upper creek. The creek contains numerous sources of organic pollution including sewage outlet flows and boat waste. A survey of the creek was performed, assessing organic pollution, water properties, and the benthic macrofaunal community. The upper creek was heavily polluted with macrofauna communities commonly associated with organic pollution and eutrophication, while the lower creek contained low pollution and relatively healthy macrofauna communities. There is little net tidal flow of water within the creek and residence time in the lagoon is high, which may account for the high organic pollution levels. However, some evidence of the pollution effect moving into the lower creek was found. The results are considered in light of current and historic organic loading within the creek and future developments in the area.
authors.affiliation: Sediment Ecology Research Group, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK. Jes11@st-andrews.ac.uk
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Khalid Mohammed
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Al Zahed
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Paterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical