ZOOPLANKTON AND DREDGING: RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES FROM A CRITICAL REVIEW¹

Abstract

Studies on the responses of zooplankton to dredging are summarized and discussed. Design criteria for studies intended for impact assessment require careful consideration of sampling due to the highly variable spatial and temporal distributions of zooplankton. It is suggested that ocean dominated systems present different research requirements than those estuarine regions which have endemic zooplankton populations. (KEY TERMS: zooplankton; dredging; plankton; water quality; estuarine fauna; zooplanktonsediment interactions.)

Comparison of Zooplankton Community Patterns in Relation to Sediment Disturbances by Dredging in the Guemho River, Korea

“…For survey purposes, researchers Dredging is a common disturbance in aquatic ecosystems. Changes of zooplankton community associated with dredging have been widely studied [10,11,47]. Water quality and nutrient variation in conjunction with dredging have a cascading effect on phytoplankton and zooplankton.…”

Canaveral Harbor, Florida, Integrated Section 203 Navigation Study Report and Final Environmental Assessment. Volume 1

“…Zooplankton are primarily filter feeders and suspended inorganic particles can foul the fine structures associated with the feeding appendages. Zooplankton that feed by ciliary action (e.g., echinoderm larvae) would also be susceptible to mechanical affects of suspended particles (Sullivan and Hancock, 1977). Zooplankton mortality is assumed from the physical trauma associated with dredging activities (Reine and Clark, 1998).…”

Environmental effects of dredging and disposal in the San Francisco Bay estuarine system : a report to the Association of Bay Area Governments /

“…A review of the effects of dredging and disposal on zooplankton (31) suggests that significant effects of suspended sediments can occur if plankton populations are localized and not dominated by oceanic processes impinging on the estuarine habitats.…”