Abstract:
The present studies were undertaken to provide basic information on the relationship between the number of replicate samples collected by divers, and the standard ecological parameters used when comparing spatial or temporal differences among benthic infaunal communities. Fifteen replicate samples of benthic infauna were collected by divers at each of two locations within Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site 4, which has been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the disposal area for material removed from the Tampa Harbor Project. These samples were progressively analyzed in order to identify the lowest number of replicates that would need to be collected and analyzed to provide sufficient community characterization for spatial and temporal comparisons.
