Publication Summary

This document is a summary for the general public of the findings of the study "Relationships between the Composition of the Benthos and Sediment and Water Quality Parameters in Hood Canal" (linked below). Analysis of Hood Canal data collected from 1932 to 2005 revealed that sediment texture was the most important factor controlling invertebrate community composition, followed by dissolved oxygen, organic carbon content of the sediments, and station depth. Steps were taken in this report to develop initial critical dissolved oxygen thresholds used to determine when benthic infauna are at risk.

As part of the Hood Canal Dissolved Oxygen Program, scientists from the Washington Department of Ecology and Western Washington University analyzed data from Hood Canal studies conducted from 1932 to 2005.

Data included measures of sediment quality, water column dissolved oxygen levels, and the numbers and kinds of sediment-dwelling invertebrates. These are small marine animals without backbones, such as worms, crabs, and clams, known as benthic infauna.

These data were examined to evaluate their relationship to each other and to respond to the question "How do low dissolved oxygen levels affect the benthic infauna in Hood Canal?"