title: Rapid macrofaunal colonization of water-based drill cuttings on different sediments.
abstract: A field experiment was conducted to investigate how water-based drill cuttings and sediment type influence colonization of soft bottom communities. Bottom frames with trays containing defaunated sediments were placed at the seabed for 6 months to study colonization of macrofauna. Two different sediments (coarse and fine) were used, and 6 or 24 mm layer of water-based drill cuttings were added on top of these sediments. Some of the sediments were controls with no additions. In the end of the experiment, the oxygen availability in sediment porewater and macrofaunal abundance were reduced in treatments with 24 mm drill cuttings compared to controls. Tube-building annelids were particularly sensitive to drill cuttings. However, these responses were only minor, and notably, the drill cuttings initiated a weaker faunal response than sediment type and site of the bottom frame. Sediments capped with water-based drill cuttings thus showed a rapid colonization of macrofaunal communities.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, NO-0349 Oslo, Norway. hilde.trannum@niva.no
authors.forename: Hilde Cecilie
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Trannum
authors.forename: Shild
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setvik
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norling
authors.forename: Hans Christer
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants