The effects of oil spills on macro-invertebrates of mangrove forests and saltmarshes in Botany Bay, N.S.W., Australia

In Botany Bay, Australia, saltmarshes and mangrove forests are not uncommonly threatened by oil spills. Studies were done to examine the short and long-term effects of spills on molluscs and crustaceans in these habitats. Mortality of some species followed simulated spills but densities reached control levels within a few weeks. Sampling of areas previously affected by spills also provided little, if any, evidence of long-term effects. There were few residual effects of the oil; therefore recolonisation would normally be relatively rapid, depending only on the size of the patch affected and the rate of recruitment from the plankton.