Harpacticoid copepod community structure in two North Sea estuaries in relation to pollution
Van Damme, D.; Heip, C.H.R.; Herman, R.; Vaeremans, M. (1981). Harpacticoid copepod community structure in two North Sea estuaries in relation to pollution. Benthos 81/06. Rijksuniversiteit Gent, Laboratorium voor Morfologie en Systematiek der Dieren, Sectie Mariene Biologie: Gent. 58 pp.
The harpacticoid copepod assemblages of two estuaries in the Netherlands, the Westerschelde and the Eems-Dollard, are compared. Both estuaries have similar physical characteristics but the Westerschelde is much more polluted than the Eems-Dollard. Harpacticoid copepod assemblages in both estuaries are similar in terms of species composition. However, there is a striking difference in quantitative characteristics : the highest annual averages of density, biomass and diversity in the Westerschelde are below the lowest annual averages in the Eems-Dollard estuary. Because both estuaries are extensively monitored, data concerning many possible causes of this difference could be compared. It is argued that it is the high load of heavy metals in the Westerschelde which is responsible for the observed decline. Harpacticoid copepods seem to be a very suitable tool in ecological monitoring of estuarine systems and can provide a good indication of general ‘health’ of rivers and coastal zones.
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