Clarity from Muddy Data: Approaches to Understanding Potential Impacts to Sediment Biota

Benthic (or bottom-dwelling) communities are made up of species that live on or within the sediment. These organisms play a significant role in their environment by breaking down detritus, building ecosystems, serving as a food source for larger animals, and acting as indicators for ecological health. They also have a higher site fidelity and can provide an overall picture of temporal and spatial impacts. Organisms within these communities respond to all stressors that might not be otherwise captured in chemical analysis of the sediment.

Scott MackeyAugust 30, 2023taxonomy, values

A New Genus and Species of Tanaidacean Crustacea

EcoAnalysts’ very own Dr. David Drumm strikes again with another publication of a marine crustacean species new to science. We encountered the species during a baseline environmental assessment of an offshore oil/gas lease in the Bay of Campeche area of the Gulf of Mexico, and it was the most dominant organism at the site.