Sublittoral zoobenthic communities of Hombush, Ermington and Brays Bays, Parramatta River, NSW.

Abstract

As part of environmental planning for the Homebush Bay area, the Coast and Wetlands Society was requested to survey the biota of local wetlands. Although Robinson et al. (1983) had surveyed the zoobenthos of Powells Creek and associated wetlands, no information was available for Homebush Bay proper or for the potential effects of urban runoff from creeks. Consequently, the aims of this study were 1. To describe the benthic community of Homebush Bay and compare it with other NSW Estuarine zoobenthic communities and 2. To assess the effects of urban runoff by comparing the Homebush Bay community with those of nearby bays less subject to urban runoff from creeks.