Recovery of intertidal benthic diatoms after biocide treatment and associated sediment dynamics

Abstract
It appears that, under suitable conditions, diatom assemblages can respond very quickly to a toxic event. The data suggest an inoculum of cells from the water column can multiply rapidly. Sediment-inhabiting macrofauna are more seriously affected, reducing grazing restrictions on the developing diatom assemblages. The structure and behaviour of the sediment was intimately related to biological factors including bioturbation and biogenic stabilization in a complex and interdependent manner. Further work is now required on the interaction of grazing organisms and microbial communities in the dynamics of intertidal cohesive sediments.