In comparing the long-term changes that occurred from 1976 to 1981 (5 

 years) the major change in the physical environment was the salinity. Other 

 changes in the sediments and depths were difficult to quantify and probably 

 did not have any biological significance. Despite the fact that a marsh was 

 present at transect IV in 1976 and had receded by 1981, there was no change 

 in the organic content of the sediments from 1976 to 1981. 



In the macrofauna community there were changes in the dominant species 

 from 1976 to 1981. The amphipod Monoculodes sp. was dominant in 1976, but 

 not in 1981. The polychaete Laeonereis culvert was dominant in 1981, but 

 not in 1976. Among the less common species there were more changes with 

 several not occurring in the 1976 and the 1981 collections. The 

 community structure measures for both years were about the same and do 

 not reflect any of the changes that occurred at the species level. Overall, 

 the changes observed in the macrofauna over the 5 years were related to the 

 increased salinity in 1981. 



3. Sample Design . 



The sample design employed in this study and by Matta (1977) was 

 identical. This allowed for the best comparison of conditions through time 

 at the selected transect locations. Considering the physically controlled 

 nature of both the ocean and sound beaches, any environmental impact that 

 could be detected by fixed, widely spaced transects would have to be large 

 and widespread. Thus, fixed transects would likely not detect any changes 

 that were very localized. Most importantly, in physically controlled 

 environments the impact has to be very severe (with the possible exception 

 of toxic substances, which are not at issue here) in order to be detected 

 in the background noise of high natural variability that the physical 

 environment imparts to the fauna. 



On the ocean beach, considering the biology and physical environment, it 

 is unlikely that any reasonably executable sampling scheme could be developed 

 to detect the pier effects at the site sampled in the intertidal and subtidal 

 (out to 60 meters) beach. Any effects of the pier are far overshadowed by 

 changes in the wave climate. 



On the sound beach, salinity is the main factor controlling the 

 biological community and, in order to understand the changes in the 

 community, salinity changes have to be incorporated into the sampling 

 design. This could be accomplished by more frequent sampling. 



Should a major impact occur in either the sound or ocean beaches, the 

 transects as established would provide the necessary background data for 

 assessing the impact. They also give useful detail on the long-term variation 

 of the two systems. 



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