| Abstract: | Based on quarterly sampling (n = 260) over four years (1985–1989) from California's San Pedro Shelf, the Pearson-Rosenberg Model (PRM) or organic enrichment was tested for the Orange County ocean outfall. The null hypothesis was that test species, abundance, and biomass curves (SAB) from the shelf closely resemble those from the model. Principal areas of agreement between test curves and model curves include increased abundance and biomass approaching an ocean outfall. Major departures from the PRM include: (1) no sharp decline in SAB curves to azoic conditions, (2) displacement of SAB curves away from the outfall, and (3) opportunistic species did not exclude or eliminate rare species. Moreover, the role of local dominant species (bivalve—Parvilucina tenuisculpta, ostracod—Euphilomedes carcharodonta polychaetous annelid—Capitella capitata) can greatly influence SAB curves within the model. Bioenhancement should not necessarily be viewed as a diagnostic feature of a polluted site. Since the PRM was originally developed for semi-enclosed, low energy depositional habitats with long residence times (fjords, sea lochs), open ocean, high energy, erosional habitats (coast and shelf) may not be the most appropriate sites to apply this model. Uncritical application of the PRM to the Orange County ocean outfall may lead to unnecessary and costly decisions. |
