title: Effects of reclamation on macrobenthic assemblages in the coastline of the Arabian Gulf: a microcosm experimental approach.
abstract: Coastal reclamation and modifications are extensively carried out in Bahrain, which may physically smother the coastal and subtidal habitats resulting in changes to abundance and distribution of macrobenthic assemblages. A microcosm laboratory experiment using three common macrobenthic invertebrates from a proposed reclaimed coastal area was preformed to examine their responses to mud burial using marine sediment collected from a designated borrow area. Significant difference in numbers of survived organisms between control and experimental treatments with a survival percentage of 41.8% for all of the selected species was observed. The polychaete Perinereis nuntia showed the highest percentage of survival (57.1%) followed by the bivalve Tellinavaltonis (42.3%) and the gastropod Cerithidea cingulata (24.0%). Quantifying species responses to sediment burial resulted from dredging and reclamation will aid in predicting the expected ecological impacts associated with coastal developments and subsequently minimizing these impacts and maintaining a sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Arabian Gulf.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain. hnaser@sci.uob.bh
authors.forename: Humood A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Naser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001445:Bahrain; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012623:Seawater; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants