The benthic fauna of sandy bays, with particular reference to Irvine Bay

Abstract

SynopisThe coastal areas in the Firth of Clyde, of which Irvine Bay is a representative example, receive important amounts of industrial and urban wastes which are a cause of economic and environmental concern.Surveys of the benthos of Irvine Bay revealed a varied fauna dominated by large densities of opportunistic polychaetes such as Chaetozone and Spio and nematodes whose distribution correlated very strongly with the high organic carbon levels in the bay. The high densities and large biomass recorded in Irvine Bay were found to be 2–3 times higher than values from Loch Ewe, a clean area with normal carbon values.All evidence from this survey points towards a situation in which the fauna is enhanced, yet does not suffer a species reduction.