Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Impacts of sedimentation on soft-bottom benthic communities in the southern islands of Singapore

  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Benthic community data from eight stations around Pulau Semakau, an island south of Singapore, were collected during three surveys and analysed to determine changes in community structure under different sediment regimes resulting from construction activity at the eastern part of Pulau Semakau. Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) Configurations indicated distinct changes in the abundance, family number and diversity of benthic invertebrate fauna, which corresponded to sedimentation rate. SIMPER analysis suggested that polychaetes tolerate increased sedimentation better than crustaceans and molluscs. Sedimentation rate and other physico-chemical parameters were also investigated to determine the relationship between environmental factors and benthic community structure. Results from Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that sedimentation rate, sediment composition and ammonia concentration were the most important factors impacting the benthic community.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agard, J. B. R., J. Gobin & R. M. Warwick, 1993. Analysis of marine macrobenthic community structure in relation to natural and man induced perturbations in a tropical environment (Trinidad, West Indies). Marine Ecology Progress Series 92: 233–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aller, R. C. & R. E. Dodge, 1974. Animal-sediment relations in a tropical lagoon Discovery Bay Jamaica. Journal of Marine Research 32: 209–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alongi, D. M., 1990. The ecology of tropical soft-bottom benthic ecosystems. Oceanography & Marine Biology: An Annual Review 28: 381–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous, 1989. Offshore dumping site to have pollution controls. The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore.

  • Banta, G. T., A. E. Giblin, J. E. Hobbie & J. Tucker, 1995, Benthic respiration and nitrogen release in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. Journal of Marine Research 53: 107–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beckett, R. G., G. Nicholson, D. M. Hotchin & B. T. Hart, 1992, The use of sedimentation fieldflow fractionation to study suspended particulate matter. Hydrobiologia. 235/236: 697–710.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottom, M. L., 1979. Effects of sewage sludge on the benthic invertebrate community of the inshore New York Bight 3: 779–782.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, J. B., 1984. Sediment analysis. In Holme, N. A. & A. D. Mcintyre (eds), Methods for the Study of Marine Benthos, 2nd edn. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London: 41–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chua, S. E. & S. K. Lee, 1984. Creation of parks on reclaimed land in Singapore. Proceedings of the 3rd Symposium On Our Environment, Singapore: 43-50.

  • Clarke, K. R. & R. H. Green, 1988. Statistical design and analysis for a 'biological effects' study. Marine Ecology Progress Series 46: 213–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, K. R. & M. Ainsworth, 1993. A method of linking multivariate community structure to environmental variables. Marine Ecology Progress Series 92: 205–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • English, S., C. Wilkinson & V. Baker, 1994. Survey Manual for Tropical Marine Resources. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia: 56–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J. S., K. R. Clark, R. M. Warwick, & G. Hobbs, 1990. Detection of initial effects of pollution on marine benthos: an example from the Ekofisk and Eldfisk oilfields, North Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series 66: 285–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, P. O. J., L. G. Anderson, O. Holby, S. Kollberg & M. O. Samuelsson, 1990. Chemical fluxes and mass balances in a marine fish cage farm. I. Carbon. Marine Ecology Progress Series 61: 61–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, P. O. J., L. G. Anderson, O. Holby, S. Kollberg & M. O. Samuelsson, 1992. Chemical fluxes ana mass balances in a marine fish cage farm. IV. Nitrogen. Marine Ecology Progress Series 89: 81–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatcher A., J. Grant & B. Schofield, 1994. Effects of suspended mussel culture (Mytilus spp.) on sedimentation, benthic respiration and sediment nutrient dynamics in a coastal bay. Marine Ecology Progress Series 115: 219–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heip, C., 1992. Benthic studies: summary and conclusions. Marine Ecology Progress Series 91: 265–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroncke, I., G. C. A. Duineveld, S. Taak, E. Rachor & R. Daan, 1992. Effects of a former discharge of drill cuttings on the macrofauna community. Marine Ecology Progress Series 91: 277–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroncke, I. & E. Rachor, 1992. Macrofauna investigations along a transect from the inner German Bight towards the Dogger Bank. Marine Ecology Progress Series 91: 269–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruskal, J. B. & M. Wish, 1978. Multidimensional Scaling. Sage Publications, California: 93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littlepage, J. L., D. V. Ellis & J. Mcinerney, 1984. Marine disposal of mine tailings. Marine Pollution Bulletin 15: 242–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, M., 1989. Govt will prevent dump site from polluting sea. The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxon, C. L., A. M. Barnett & D. R. Diener, 1997. Sediment contaminants and biological effects in southern California: use of a multivariate statistical approach to assess biological impact. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 16: 775–784.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirza, F. B. & J. S. Gray, 1981. The fauna of benthic sediment from the organically enriched Olsofjord, Norway. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology 54: 181–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nathan, D., 1993. Measures in place to prevent pollution at land-fill site: ENV. The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nathan, D., 1995. $379m contract awarded to begin offshore landfill. The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings, Singapore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nedwell, D. B. & M. Trimmer, 1996. Nitrogen fluxes through the upper estuary of the Great Ouse, England: the role of bottom sediments. Marine Ecology Progress Series 142: 273–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, J. A., G. T. Powe, C. H. Clifford & R. A. Young, 1978. In situ experiments on the burial of marine invertebrates. Journal of Sediment Petrology 48: 419–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolaidou, A., M. A. Pancucci & A. Zenetos, 1989. The inpact of dumping coarse metalliferous waste on the benthos in Evoikos Gulf, Greece. Marine Pollution Bulletin 20: 28–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novitsky, J. A., 1990. Evidence for sedimenting particles as the origin of the microbial community on a coastal marine sediment. Marine Ecology Progress Series 60: 161–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsgard, F. & J. R. Hasle, 1993. Impact of waste from titanium mining on benthic fauna. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology 172: 185–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Probert, P. K., 1981. Changes in the benthic community of china clay deposits in Mevagissey Bay following a reduction in discharges. Journal of Marine Biological Assessment U.K. 61: 789–804.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rygg, B., 1985. Distribution of species along pollution-induced diversity gradients in benthic communities in Norwegian fjords. Marine Pollution Bulletin 12: 469–474.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turk, T. R. & M. J. Risk, 1981. Effects of sedimentation on infaunal invertebrate populations of Cobequid Bay, Bay of Fundy. Canadian Journal of Fishery Aquatic Sciences 38: 642–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, A. R., 1975. Studies on the sublittoral free-living nematodes of Liverpool Bay. II. Influence of sediment composition on the distribution of marine nematodes. Marine Biology 30: 217–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warwick, R. M., 1988. The level of taxonomic discrimination required to detect pollution effects on marine benthic communities. Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 (6): 259–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warwick, R. M., H. M. Platt, K. R. Clarke, J. Agard, J. Gobin, J., 1990. Analysis of macrobenthic and meiobenthic community structure in relation to pollution and disturbance in Hamilton Harbor, Bermuda. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology & Ecology 138: 119–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warwick, R. M. & K. R. Clarke, 1991. A comparison of some methods for analysing changes in benthic community structure. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 71: 225–244.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543

    L.M. Chou, J.Y. Yu & T.L. Loh

Authors
  1. L.M. Chou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J.Y. Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T.L. Loh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chou, L., Yu, J. & Loh, T. Impacts of sedimentation on soft-bottom benthic communities in the southern islands of Singapore. Hydrobiologia 515, 91–106 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000027321.23230.2f

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000027321.23230.2f

Search

Navigation