Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil, west coast of Scotland

Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column; Insect and earthworm taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Salinity of the water column; Quantity of material dumped; Redox potential in sediment; Concentrations of biopolymers in sediment; Temperature of the water column; Alkalinity, acidity and pH of the water column; Nitrogen concentrations in sediment; Carbon concentrations in sediment; Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed; Concentration of other organic contaminants in sediment samples

Discrete water samplers; unconsolidated sediment corers; sediment grabs

The survey was initiated to assess the impact on the sedimentary ecology of the area of the effluent from a pulp and paper mill discharging into the narrows between the two lochs. It was continued as a general study of organic enrichment of marine sediments and of fjordic benthic ecology. The study resulted in the publication of over 50 research papers over a period of 20 years.

Pearson, T.H. (1975) The benthic ecology of Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil, a sea loch system on the west coast of Scotland. IV. Changes in the benthic fauna attributable to organic enrichment., Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 20(1): 1-36.; Pearson, T.H. (1982) The Loch Eil Project: assessment and synthesis., Journal of Experimental Biology and Ecology. 57(1): 93-124.

Scottish Association for Marine Science

Argyll
Oban
PA37 1QA
United Kingdom