The recovery of benthic communities along the County Durham coast after cessation of colliery spoil dumping

摘要: Abstract Large amounts of coal tailings and minestone have been dumped off the County Durham coast since at least beginning twentieth century. Three sites which subjected to colliery waste dumping were studied assess effect on marine benthos, degree recovery benthic communities after cessation dumping. A control site was chosen north impacted presumed be unaffected by operations. At each three replicate grabs taken for macrofaunal analysis one sediment (sand-silt ratio percentage loss ignition). The appears had an fauna present, indicated multidimensional scaling (MDS) configurations, showed a clear separation between highest diversity Easington (6 months dumping) followed Blackhall control, with lowest Horden. This suggests that level disturbance is such as result in increase affected sites. There signs from effects mine Horden 7 1 2 years dumping, although community still perturbed 12 probably caused prevailing southbound current transporting down this site, where it accumulate.