Biological Impact on Sediment Processes in the Coastal Zone. (Winner of 1995 Geotechnical Research Medal).

Abstract

W Biological communities (benthos) can have a major impact on the stability of marine sediments. The Paper reviews laboratory results obtained using species and sediment from the upper Clyde Estuary. The impact of these results on predicting sediment processes in the coastal zone is also discussed. New relationships are presented that relate the population of two marine organisms (Nereis diversicolor and Corophium volutator) to increased sediment shear strength.

Reproductive behavior of intersexes of an intertidal amphipod Corophium volutator

“…These amphipods are a key component of mudflat communities in that they serve as the main prey item for migratory shorebirds (Hicklin & Smith 1984), fish (McCurdy et al 2005, and infaunal predators (McCurdy & Moran 2004). Their U-shaped burrows also influence the structure of mudflats by preventing erosion (Pender et al 1994). Additionally, members of C. volutator are frequently used as a bioindicator in toxicity studies (e.g., Depledge & Billinghurst 1999;Kirkpatrick et al 2006;Krang & Dahstrom 2006).…”