Patterns of distribution of macro-fauna in Different types of estuarine, soft sediment habitats adjacent to urban and non-urban areas

The intertidal benthic macrofauna in various parts of the Port Hacking Estuary (New South Wales, Australia) was studied to find out whether benthic communities differed among areas subject to different degrees of human disturbance (i.e., urban versus non-urban areas). Four habitat types were sampled: unvegetated 1) sandy and 2) muddy sediments and sediments within 3) seagrass (Zostera capricorni) beds and 4) mangroves (Avicennia marina). Differences between urban and non-urban areas in benthic macrofauna community structure were observed only in areas with sandy sediments. Two possible reasons why responses to urbanization differed among habitats are that the level of exposure of benthic organisms to disturbances may differ among habitats or that benthic communities in different habitats may differ in their sensitivity to disturbances.