Author(s): Naim S. Ismail
Article publication date: 1993-08-01
Vol. 11 No. 2 (yearly), pp. 229-240.
194
Keywords
Macrobenthos, Sewer outlets, Abu-Dhabi, Arabian Gulf.
Abstract
There are three abandoned sewer outlets around Abu-Dhabi Island which were formerly used for sewage disposal and are now used for water disposal. During November 1990 a total of 140 core samples (0.01 m2 to a depth of 10-15 cm) were collected from the low tide line at the three sewer outlets and two control stations away from the outlets. Results show that there is a slight accumulation of organic carbon in sediments at two of the sewer outlets. However, the faunal analysis revealed that this accumulation has no measurable effects on the community structure of macrobenthic invertebrates at these outlets. The faunal composition at one of these stations is similar to that at one of the control stations. The other station has a faunal composition similar to that reported from non-polluted sandy beaches with similar sedimentary composition along the Arabian Gulf.