Observations on the Fauna and Constituents of an Estuarine Mud in a Polluted Area

Abstract

1. An ecological survey of the fauna of Dingle Beach, Mersey Estuary, has been made. 2. A detailed analysis of the constituents of the mud, sand and gravel is given. 3. A quantitative analysis of the Molluscan fauna from a series of stations has been made. 4. Type of ground and fauna at different tidal levels are correlated. Mya arenaria is only found in abundance where there are stones. Macoma balthica is abundant wherever there is thick mud. 5. Dingle Beach is a type of Macoma community but differing markedly from the typical community described by Petersen as “d”. 6. The importance of sewage in producing silt and the part played by sewage in the food chain are discussed.