Benthic macrofaunal communities in the Tuggerah lakes, New South Wales

Abstract

The benthic macrofaunal communities of the Tuggerah Lakes were sampled using a diver-held corer. Communities were separated using DIVINF and MULCLAS classification techniques and the structure of the communities assessed using species number, diversity and evenness indices. Community structure was closely related to habitat type, seagrass substrates providing the greatest diversity compared with both mud and sand substrates. A flood during the sampling period affected the mud sites to a larger extent than seagrass sites, causing a decline in both species number and diversity. An effect of thermal power station effluent on shallow water community structure was observed and the implications of this are discussed.