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What Works in Conservation 2020

 | 
William J. Sutherland
, 
Lynn V. Dicks
, 
Silviu O. Petrovan
, 
et al.

13. Subtidal benthic invertebrate conservation

13.6 Threat: Pollution

Texte intégral

13.6.1 General

Unknown effectiveness

Add chemicals or minerals to sediments to remove or neutralise pollutants

1Two studies examined the effects of adding chemicals or minerals to sediments to remove or neutralise pollutants on subtidal benthic invertebrate populations. Both studies evaluated the use of coal ash in Hiroshima Bay (Japan).

2COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

3Overall richness/diversity (1 study): One controlled, before-and-after study in Hiroshima Bay found that adding coal ash increased invertebrate species richness in winter but not summer compared to untreated sites.

4POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

5Overall abundance (2 studies): One controlled, before-and-after study in Hiroshima Bay found that adding coal ash increased invertebrate abundance in winter but not summer compared to untreated sites. One controlled study in Hiroshima Bay found that one of two types of coal ash increased combined invertebrate and fish abundance, but not biomass.

6Assessment: unknown effectiveness (effectiveness 40 %; certainty 20 %; harms 0 %).

7https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2176

No evidence found (no assessment)

8We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Establish pollution emergency plans
  • Transplant/translocate ‘bioremediating’ species.

13.6.2 Domestic and urban wastewater

Likely to be beneficial

Limit, cease or prohibit the dumping of sewage sludge

9Two studies examined the effects of ceasing or prohibiting the dumping of sewage sludge on subtidal benthic invertebrate populations. One study was in the New York Bight (USA), one in the North Sea (UK).

10COMMUNITY RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

11Overall community composition (2 studies): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the New York Bight found that after ceasing sewage sludge dumping, overall invertebrate community composition became more similar to less disturbed sites. One replicated, site comparison study in the North Sea found that overall invertebrate community composition changed but remained different to that of natural sites.

12POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

13Overall abundance (1 study): One replicated, site comparison study in the North Sea found that after ceasing sewage sludge dumping, overall invertebrate abundance became similar to that of natural sites.

14Worm abundance (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the New York Bight found that after ceasing sewage sludge dumping, abundance of pollution-indicator polychaete worms decreased and became similar to that of natural sites.

15Assessment: likely to be beneficial (effectiveness 70 %; certainty 47 %; harms 0 %).

16https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2179

Unknown effectiveness

Set or improve minimum sewage treatment standards

17One study examined the effects of improving minimum sewage treatment standards on subtidal benthic invertebrates. The study was in the Bay of Biscay (Spain).

18COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

19Overall community composition (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the Bay of Biscay found that after introducing a secondary treatment of sewage wastewaters, invertebrate community composition at an impacted site did not significantly change compared to unimpacted sites. Overall richness/diversity (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the Bay of Biscay found that after introducing a secondary treatment of sewage wastewaters, invertebrate richness and diversity at an impacted site did not significantly change compared to unimpacted sites.

20POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

21Overall abundance (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the Bay of Biscay found that after introducing a secondary treatment of sewage wastewaters, total cover of invertebrates significantly increased at an impacted site at 8 m but not 3 m depth, compared to unimpacted sites. Assessment: unknown effectiveness (effectiveness 23 %; certainty 28 %; harms 0 %).

22https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2180

No evidence found (no assessment)

23We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Limit the amount of storm wastewater overflow
  • Limit, cease or prohibit the dumping of untreated sewage.

13.6.3 Industrial and military effluents

Unknown effectiveness

Remove or clean-up oil pollution following a spill

24One study examined the effects of removing and cleaning-up oil pollution following a spill on subtidal benthic invertebrates. The study was in the Baltic Proper (Sweden).

25COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

26POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

27Mollusc condition (1 study): One replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in the Baltic Proper found that after cleaning-up spilled oil using high pressure hot water, crude oil content increased in mussels and did not naturally decrease over time, and was higher than in mussels from an uncleaned contaminated and a non-contaminated site.

28Assessment: unknown effectiveness (effectiveness 20 %; certainty 26 %; harms 30 %).

29https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2183

No evidence found (no assessment)

30We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Set regulatory ban on marine burial of nuclear waste
  • Use double hulls to prevent oil spills.

13.6.4 Aquaculture effluents

Unknown effectiveness

Cease or prohibit aquaculture activity

31Two studies examined the effects of ceasing or prohibiting aquaculture activity on subtidal benthic invertebrate populations. Both studies were in the Mediterranean Sea (Italy and Spain).

32COMMUNITY RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

33Overall community composition (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the Mediterranean Sea found that after ceasing aquaculture activity invertebrate community composition remained different to that of an unfarmed site.

34Worm community composition (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the Mediterranean Sea found that after ceasing aquaculture activity worm community composition community composition remained different to that of an unfarmed site.

35POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

36Overall abundance (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the Mediterranean Sea found that after ceasing aquaculture activity overall invertebrate abundance was similar to an unfarmed site.

37Worm abundance (1 study): One before-and-after, site comparison study in the Mediterranean Sea found that after ceasing aquaculture activity abundance of health-indicating worms increased, and abundance of pollution-indicating worms decreased.

38Assessment: unknown effectiveness (effectiveness 25 %; certainty 20 %; harms 0 %).

39https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2185

Leave a fallow period during fish/shellfish farming

40Three studies examined the effects of leaving a fallow period during fish farming on subtidal benthic invertebrate populations. Two studies were in the Tasman Sea (Australia), and one in the North Pacific Ocean (USA).

41COMMUNITY RESPONSE (3 STUDIES)

42Overall community composition (2 study): Two replicated, before-and-after, site comparison study in the Tasman Sea found that after a fallow period invertebrate community composition became similar to that occurring before the fish were added but remained different to communities at sites without fish farms.

43Worm community composition (1 study): One replicated, before-and-after, site comparison study in the North Pacific Ocean found that after a fallow period polychaete worm community composition changed but remained different to communities at sites without fish farms.

44Worm richness/diversity (1 study): One replicated, before-and-after, site comparison study in the North Pacific Ocean found that after a fallow period polychaete worm diversity did not change and remained lower compared to sites without fish farms.

45POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

46Worm abundance (2 studies): Two replicated, before-and-after, site comparison studies in the Tasman Sea and the North Pacific Ocean found that following a fallow period, abundances of pollution-indicator polychaete worms decreased, but remained higher compared to sites without fish farms.

47Assessment: unknown effectiveness (effectiveness 40 %; certainty 35 %; harms 0 %).

48https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2191

No evidence found (no assessment)

49We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Improve fish food and pellets to reduce aquaculture waste production
  • Locate aquaculture systems in areas with fast currents
  • Locate aquaculture systems in already impacted areas
  • Locate aquaculture systems in vegetated areas
  • Locate artificial reefs near aquaculture systems (and vice versa) to act as biofilters
  • Moor aquaculture cages so they move in response to changing current direction
  • Reduce aquaculture stocking densities
  • Reduce the amount of antibiotics used in aquaculture systems
  • Reduce the amount of pesticides used in aquaculture systems
  • Use other bioremediation methods in aquaculture
  • Use species from more than one level of a food web in aquaculture systems.

13.6.5 Agricultural and forestry effluents

No evidence found (no assessment)

50We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Create artificial wetlands to reduce the amount of pollutants reaching the sea
  • Establish aquaculture to extract the nutrients from run-offs
  • Regulate the use, dosage and disposal of agrichemicals
  • Treat wastewater from intensive livestock holdings.

13.6.6 Garbage and solid waste

No evidence found (no assessment)

51We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Bury electricity cables to reduce electromagnetic fields
  • Install stormwater traps or grids
  • Limit, cease or prohibit discharge of solid waste overboard from vessels
  • Recover lost fishing gear
  • Remove litter from the marine environment
  • Use biodegradable panels in fishing pots.

13.6.7 Excess energy

No evidence found (no assessment)

52We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Limit, cease or prohibit industrial and urban lighting at night
  • Limit, cease or prohibit the discharge of cooling effluents from power stations
  • Limit, cease or prohibit the use of sonars
  • Reduce underwater noise (other than sonar).

13.6.8 Other pollution

Likely to be beneficial

Restrict the use of tributyltin or other toxic antifouling coatings

53Four studies examined the effects of restricting the use of tributyltin as an antifouling coating on subtidal benthic invertebrate populations. One study was located in the English Channel (UK), two in the River Crouch estuary (UK), and one in Otsuchi Bay (Japan).

54COMMUNITY RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

55Overall community composition (1 study): One replicated, before-and-after study in the River Crouch estuary found that after restricting the use of tributyltin, invertebrate community composition changed, but that changes varied with locations.

56Overall richness/diversity (1 study): One replicated, before-and-after study in the River Crouch estuary found that after restricting the use of tributyltin, overall invertebrate species richness and diversity increased.

57POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

58Molluscs condition (1 study): One replicated, before-and-after study in the English Channel found that after restricting the use of tributyltin, there was a decrease in its concentration in dogwhelks and the penis length of female dogwhelks.

59Crustacean condition (1 study): One study in Otsuchi Bay found that after restricting the use of tributyltin its concentration decreased in skeleton shrimps. Assessment: likely to be beneficial (effectiveness 69 %; certainty 45 %; harms 0 %).

60https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2214

Unknown effectiveness

Remove and clean-up shoreline waste disposal sites

61One study examined the effects of removing and cleaning-up shoreline waste disposal sites on subtidal benthic invertebrates. The study was in the Southern Ocean (Antarctica).

62COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

63Overall community composition (1 study): One replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in the Southern Ocean found that after removing and cleaning-up a disused waste disposal site, invertebrate community composition changed, and no further negative impacts were detected, but communities remained different to natural sites.

64Overall richness/diversity (1 study): One replicated, controlled, before-and-after study in the Southern Ocean found that after removing and cleaning-up a disused waste disposal site, invertebrate species richness did not change over time and remained different to that of natural sites, but no further negative impacts were detected.

65Assessment: unknown effectiveness (effectiveness 49 %; certainty 35 %; harms 0 %).

66https://www.conservationevidence.com/​actions/​2215

No evidence found (no assessment)

67We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:

  • Limit, cease or prohibit the discharge of waste effluents overboard from vessels
  • Use non-toxic antifouling coatings on surfaces.

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