Benthic macrofauna of the mangrove swamp treated with municipal wastewater

摘要: Benthic macrofauna and possible effects on community structureofdischarging municipal wastewater to Futian National MangroveReserve, the People‘s Republic of China, were investigated.Eighty-four species ground-dwelling fauna belonging 7Phyla,9 Classes, 46 Families 65 Genera identified. Abundantfamilies Assimineidae, Melanidae, Potamididae,Ocypodidae,Grapsidae Periophthalmidae. Between April 1991 January1993,no obvious seasonal fluctuation in compositionoccurred.Total biomass also remained unchanged. However, total densityshowed peaks January July (both section A B),probably due molluscs.A selected site mangroves was treated with municipalwastewater (60 m3 per week for 16 consecutive months). Incomparison a control site, effect wastewaterdischarge ontotal mean density (particularly molluscs andcrustaceans) appeared non-significant P?0.05). Thecommunity structure unchanged although some saprobicspecies emerged area close thewastewater front increased slightly. Multivariate analysisindicated that there probably an initial inhibition periodanda subsequent recovery period benthic response tothedischarged mangrove swamp.The study confirms withinmangroves islow diversity high population counts incomparison frontal mudflat. Longitudinal zonation ofthefauna from landward seaward will bediscussed.