Ecological Response to Relaxation of Sewage Stress Off Sand Island, O'ahu, Hawai'i

摘要

The largest domestic sewage outfall in Hawaii discharged 3 cu m/s (62 mgd) of raw sewage in 10 m of water approximately 1,000 m off Sand Island, Oahu, from 1955 to 1977. Results of an ecological field study of epibenthic communities in proximity to Sand Island conducted in 1975 and 1979 show clear patterns of community change associated with both sewage impact and relaxation of this stress. Negative community effects attributable to sewage input decreased, and degree of recovery of community structure increased with distance from the point source of discharge.