Benthic communities: Use in monitoring point-source discharges

Report on the utility of field surveys of benthic fauna for monitoring the impact of point-source inputs (dumping or discharge of wastes). This topic has been structured along the following lines:
Section A - a general review of benthic studies in relation to pollution. This was felt to be important in view of increasing interest in the application of a variety of biological effects
techniques, as benthic communities represent only one of many possible targets in the study of the effects of point-source discharges. The account also addresses the issues raised concerning the nature and significance of observed responses;
Section B - guidelines for the conduct of benthic monitoring programmes around point-source discharges;
Section C - examples of effective survey design; and
Section D - a review of the use of meiofauna in pollution studies; this is a relatively new area of application, and was felt to warrant separate treatment.