Impact of Mussel Culture on Macrobenthic Community Structure in Saldanha Bay, South Africa

Abstract The impact of raft mussel-culture in Saldanha Bay, South Africa on macrobenthic community structure (abundance and biomass) was studied. Sampling was conducted in January between 1993 and 1996 to assess: (1) the composition of macrobenthos below rafts relative to outside the farm; (2) effects of raft position and age within the farm; and (3) recovery rate of benthos after raft removal. Analyses included ABC plots, hierarchical clustering and species diversity indices. Disturbed communities were found under 78% of raft sites sampled. The level of disturbance (Warwick Statistics) and the dominant opportunistic species (Bray–Curtis Similarities) changed from year to year, polychaetes and scavenging gastropods being most common. The degree of disturbance appeared related to raft sites positioned in the middle of the farm rather than raft age. Whereas ABC plots and hierarchical cluster analyses best identified the disturbance of benthic communities, diversity indices detected marginal recovery four years after raft removal. Although deposit feeders dominated all sites, suspension feeders increased in number and biomass at reference sites. This study presented a “yes/no” scenario that will be addressed in subsequent research in the modelling of culture ecosystems.