Dredging Operations Technical Support Program: Preliminary Investigation of the Short-Term Effects of Storms on Sedimentary Characteristics and the Nearshore Fauna Using the Sediment Profiling Camera System
1988
Miller-Way, Christine A. | Nelson, David A.
A pilot study was conducted to investigate the short-term effects of disturbance by storms on nearshore sandy-bottom habitats at Duck, N. C., in October 1986. Sedimentary characteristics and benthic faunal composition were assessed using a sediment profiling camera system and traditional benthic sampling technique. Technical problems precluded benthic sampling during the prestorm period. Poststorm sampling at five stations showed that the nearshore benthic fauna can be divided into two disturbance/faunal zones on the basis of faunal composition and sedimentary characteristics. The first zone (four inshore stations, ranging in depth from approximately 4 to 12 m) was characterized by low faunal abundance and was numerically dominated by amphipods and a diverse assemblage of polychaetes. The second zone (the farthest offshore station at a depth of approximately 14 m) was characterized by high faunal abundance and was numerically dominated by capitellid polychaetes. The sediment profiling camera system did not provide much insight into benthic community responses to short- term disturbance in this sandy environment. This study and another study in the SUPERDUCK program were carried out simultaneously, demonstrating that when equipment needs and goals are similar and with proper planning and communication physical and biological studies can be conducted concurrently in a cost- effective manner. Additional studies may give insight into the short-term effects of human disturbances such as dredging and disposal operations on sedimentary characteristics and the benthic community characteristic of the habitat.
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