Abstract
The effect of mine-tailing on benthic productivity in a threshold inlet was explored by studies on the polychaete Ammotrypane aulogaster Rathke, 1843. Ammotrypane was chosen as an indicator species of potentially reduced production in the area fringing total benthic obliteration due to its abundance (up to 1017 m−2) at the time of the surveys.
Densities, weights and lengths were inversely related to greater tailing deposition. These observations indicate that under light tailing there is some loss in benthic production. More detailed time-series studies are now required to measure the extent of the loss.
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Jones, A.A., Ellis, D.V. Sub-obliterative effects of mine-tailing on marine infaunal benthos. Water Air Soil Pollut 5, 299–307 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00158345
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00158345