106. McCALL, P.L., "Community Patterns and Adaptive Strategies of the 

 Infaunal Benthos of Long Island Sound," Journal of Marine Research, 

 Vol. 35, No. 2, May 1977, pp. 221-266. 



This study examines the Importance of disturbances of the sea floor, 

 which result in the local mortality of infaunal benthos, as a cause for 

 spatial and temporal faunal changes commonly observed in nearshore benthic 

 communities. The role of disturbance in ecological succession was examined 

 by in situ experiments in central Long Island Sound. 



Differences in the distribution and abundance of benthic organisms in 

 central Long Island Sound may be explained in terms of two different adaptive 

 strategies — opportunistic or equilibrium. The relative opportunism of the 

 Long Island Sound benthos is closely related to the mobility and living and 

 feeding position to the substratum. Sedentary animals and those living or 

 feeding close to the sediment-water interface are more likely to be opportun- 

 istic and less predictable in space and time. Mobile animals and those living 

 or retreating deep into the sediment are more likely to be equilibristic , and 

 generally tend to have populations that are more predictable in space and 

 time. 



107. McCAULEY, J.E., and BELLA, D.A., "Environmental Considerations for 

 Estuarine Dredging Operations," Proaeedings of the World Dredging 

 Conferenae IV, 1972, pp. 457-482. 



A conceptual model of estuarine benthic systems is described. The model 

 includes a look at the organic and inorganic deposits found in estuarine areas; 

 the plant and animal life, including filter and deposit feeders; food webs; 

 and suspended particles and transport mechanisms. The range of man's impact 

 on estuarine benthic systems is also surveyed. Particular emphasis is placed 

 on the role of dredging operations as they affect changes in organic deposi- 

 tion, turbidity, tidelands, and estuarine hydrodynamics. The limits of current 

 knowledge on the possible adverse effects of operations such as dredging seem 

 to make it advisable to preserve estuarine systems in a relatively undeveloped 

 state. Such preservation would allow the continued study of estuarine eco- 

 systems in their natural state and would reduce the probability of widespread 

 irreversible damage. 



108. McCAULEY, J.E., PARR, R.A., and HANCOCK, D.R., "Benthic Infauna and 

 Maintenance Dredging: A Case Study," Water Search, Vol. 11, Pergamon 

 Press, Oxford, England, 1977, pp. 233-242. 



Studies of a small maintenance dredging operation in Coos Bay, Oregon, 

 showed that significant decreases of benthic infaunal abundance immediately 

 after dredging extended at least 100 meters from the site of the actual dredg- 

 ing. The infauna readjusted to predredging conditions within 28 days in the 

 dredged area and within 14 days in the adjacent areas. At the spoil site a 

 similar decrease was followed by a 2-week recovery period. The authors suggest 

 that an area subjected to maintenance dredging is also subjected to frequent 

 disturbances from ship movements and other harbor activities, and that the 

 infauna is well adapted to this; thus, maintenance dredging is a relatively 

 normal event and should not be expected to have catastrophic effects. 



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