Occurrence of foraminifera, molluscs and ostracods adjacent to the industrialized shoreline of Canso Strait, Nova Scotia

1573-2932

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering

Abstract The distribution of foraminifers, molluscs and ostracods was investigated in a moderately polluted part of the Canso Strait. These three groups of invertebrates show a relatively high, moderate and low tolerance to industrial effluents respectively. Maps of species distributions and of trace metal concentrations indicate that the usual direction of movement of contaminated surface waters is southward. In the marine environment adjacent to the industrialized shoreline the productivity of the Foraminifera is relatively low compared to values observed in the less polluted areas of the Strait. The relatively large numbers of Eggerella advena reflect its ability to compete successfully and to reproduce in modified or ‘artificial’ environments. Stressed environments near pollution sources in the Strait are characterized by large numbers of E. advena, Elphidium incertum/clavatum group, the mollusc species Modiolus modiolus, and several ostracods including Baffinicythere emarginata and Muellerina canadensis.

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