6.6 Suggested further studies 



The Tsesis spill clearly offers an unusual opportunity to monitor 

 the recovery of a benthic soft bottom after moderate damage by oil 

 pollution. Good pre-spill data are available for the macrofauna and can 

 be obtained for the meiofauna. The following studies are planned: 



1. To work up available pre-spill meiofauna samples from stations 

 15, 20 and 21 and more post-spill cores from stations 20 and 

 21. Station 20 has the highest priority. 



2. To continue sampling stations 20 and 21 for meio- and macro- 

 fauna until recovery at station 20 is complete. 



3. To survey the affected area. This will be done in summer 1979 

 by means of a grid of about 40 van Veen grab samples, covering 

 the suspect area. Macrofauna and large meiofauna (0.5 mm 

 sieve) will be analyzed. This may locate areas where the 

 impact on the benthos community has been even more drastic 

 than at station 20. If so, then at lea.^t one of these should 

 be included in the future sampling program (2 above). 



6.7 Acknowledgement 



The expert statistical help of Ann-Sofi Matthiessen, Department of 

 Statistics, University of Stockholm, was greatly appreciated. 



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