environmental stress, was found to be generally lower within the de- 

 signated dumping grounds. Table 12, taken from the SHL report, reported- 

 ly compares the "species diversity" of benthic communities for selected 

 stations within and outside the dumping grounds. In this table, species 

 which were found at the least "diversified" station (#82, dredge spoil 

 disposal site) are listed at the extreme left of the table. Species 

 common to the next least "diversified" station (#42, northeast of the 

 dumping grounds) were listed to the right of the first column of species. 

 Species common to the first and the second stations were listed in the 

 second column (#42) and in addition, species which were found at station 

 #42 but not at station #82, were placed in a new listing (Row II) above 

 the previous stations. A matrix therefore was developed by SHL of 

 vertical columns designated by station numbers, and horizontal rows 

 indicated by Roman numerals, giving the "species diversities" at dif- 

 ferent stations. The percentage of the samples in which each species 

 occurred at each sampling station is given after the species name. 

 These numbers give an indication of species abundance, but may not be 

 statistically valid since no information is given on frequency of 

 sampling and sampling methodology. Some other discrepancies in interpret- 

 ing the data of table 12 should be pointed out. According to this table, 

 station #82 (dredge spoil disposal site) had a lower "species diversity" 

 than any other station. Station #42, however, northeast of the dumping 

 grounds, had the same "species diversity" as station #82 (23 species) 

 while station #59 (the sewage sludge dump site) had greater "species 

 diversity" than both #82 and #42, but considerably less than station #38, 

 which is located south of the dumping grounds. The data in table 12 

 therefore, represents only data at random, and a speculative use of 

 species diversity. A concurrent sweep of environmental parameters to- 

 gether with biological sampling along a transect, would have been a 

 better method of illustrating differences in environmental gradient. 



Some of the results on benthic communities of the SHL are not in full 

 agreement with those of the SUNY-SB study. An assessment of the findings 

 of both investigations is given in the discussion section of this report 

 dealing with the effects of ocean dumping on the regional ecology. 

 Similarly, in the same section, the use of species diversity as an index 

 of environmental stress is discussed. 



In the following sections, a summary is given on some of the biological 

 characteristics of benthic populations, as established by these preliminary 

 investigations. 



(1) Meiofauna . Meiofauna is defined operationally as those 

 animals that can pass through a 1.00 mm standard geological screen but 

 are retained on a 63 micron screen. These organisms, especially foramini- 

 fera, are near the base of the benthic food chain, and are the most common 

 ecologically significant group of animals in the marine sediments of the 

 New York Bight. Because of their abundance, intimate association with 

 the sedimentary environment, and limited mobility, these animals should 

 be the most sensitive to any degradation of the sediments and of the 

 interstitial water. Therefore, studies of meiofauna, especially the 



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