The 1985 and 1986 REMOTS® results confirmed that infaunal 
recolonization on the disposal mounds was proceeding within 
expected rates. Evidence of head-down deposit-feeding equilibrium 
assemblages were found at the older disposal mounds (NL-I, NL-II, 
NL-III, and NL-RELIC) as well as at the Reference station. MThe 
dominant infaunal taxon present in this area was ampeliscid 
amphipods (identified in the benthic community analyses as 
Ampelisca vadorum). Hydroids were evident in many photographs at 
the Reference station, apparently attached to the shells of small 
mussels. The results from the benthic infaunal analyses confirmed 
the presence of the juvenile mussel Musculus niger at this location 
in significant densities. 
Recolonization at the NL-85 disposal mound also 
progressed at the expected rate. The pre-disposal survey in 
November 1985 documented the presence of Stage II and III organisms 
in high densities at this disposal location. During the post- 
disposal survey (January 1986), Stage I organisms were seen in the 
area of mapped dredged material with Stage II and III species 
elsewhere. In the survey conducted in July 1986, approximately six 
months after the major disposal operations had stopped, Stage II 
species (Ampelisca) were successfully recolonizing the disposal 
mound. Stage III organisms were seen at the flanks of the mound 
where they were able either to penetrate the thin layers of dredged 
material or to move over from ambient bottom. Comparison of the 
results of the benthic community analysis conducted in November 
1985 and July 1986 confirmed the recolonization seen by REMOTS®. 
The overall species diversity at NL-85 was lower in July 1986 and 
dominated by Ampelisca (over 86% of individuals). Abundance of 
non-Ampelisca species was also significantly lower. In November 
1985, the dominant taxa included many Stage III species (e.g., 
Nephtys, Tharyx, Tellina, and Nucula) while the dominant taxa in 
July 1986 included mostly Stage II species. 
The NL-85 disposal mound station appeared to have been 
colonized by ampeliscid amphipods during the summer of 1986. 
Amphipods are known to be sensitive to sediment quality (hence 
their use as target species for many sediment bioassay tests). 
Dense assemblages of amphipods are commonly an intermediate (Stage 
II) sere in the normal infaunal successional sequence in Long 
Island Sound (Rhoads and Germano, 1982), and low species diversity 
is quite common in the early development of this assemblage. Due 
to the timing of the field investigations (several months after 
disposal had stopped), initial colonization of the dredged material 
mound by Stage I opportunistic polychaetes was not documented by 
the benthic sampling; this normally begins within 7-10 days after 
the initial disturbance (McCall, 1977; Germano, 1983). However, 
some dominants from this initial colonizing sere were still present 
(e.g., Prionospio steenstrupi). Previous work by other 
investigators (e.g., Woodin, 1976) has shown that settling larvae 
have an extremely difficult time establishing themselves among 
dense tube-dwelling assemblages. Given the early stage of 
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