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An assessment of benthic condition in several small watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay, USA

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Abstract

We examined benthic condition in three small watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay. Characterization of benthic condition was based on the combined measurements of benthic fauna, sediment toxicity, and sediment contaminant loads. Significant differences between watersheds were detected for sediment contaminant concentrations and water quality. The intensity of benthic impairment was greatest in the river surrounded by the most developed watershed. Spatial patterns of benthic condition were detected within all three watersheds. In contrast to current, intense focus on nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, qualitative comparison of our findings to land-use patterns supports findings of other studies that suggest benthic condition in tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay may more closely relate to urbanization than agricultural land uses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, NOAA, 904 South Morris Street, Oxford, MD, 21601, USA

    Andrew K. Leight

  2. Versar, Inc., 9200 Rumsey Road, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA

    Ward H. Slacum

  3. Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, NOAA, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA

    Ed F. Wirth & Mike H. Fulton

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  1. Andrew K. Leight
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  2. Ward H. Slacum
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  3. Ed F. Wirth
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  4. Mike H. Fulton
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Correspondence to Andrew K. Leight.

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Leight, A.K., Slacum, W.H., Wirth, E.F. et al. An assessment of benthic condition in several small watersheds of the Chesapeake Bay, USA. Environ Monit Assess 176, 483–500 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1599-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1599-9

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