The benthic macrofauna of sludge-affected sediments in the Derwent Estuary, southern Tasmania

Abstract

Examined the consequences of sludge emanating from a pulp and paper factory. In total, 45 invertebrate species were collected, but none was found in the sediment in the river channel between the pulpmill and a site 5km downstream. Similarly, other sediments with wood fibre present and with very negative redox values were faunistically depauperate and posessed much lower species richness than that anticipated from other studies in Australia. Results suggest that smothering by wood fibre, with concomitant toxicological effects of chemical reactions in the sediment, results in the low invertebrate diversities observed. -from Authors