Houston Ship Channel ecology initiative: Final report

Date

1997

Authors

Ferebee, Robert N., Cynthia L. Howard, Jennifer Reaves, and Deborah Gessell

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Houston - Clear Lake, School of Natural and Applied Sciences

Abstract

From May 1993 through March 1996, a portion of the lower Houston Ship Channel (HSC) between the San Jacinto River confluence and Morgan's Point was studied to determine the presence, diversity and productivity of macroinvertebrate and microbial fauna. Samples of the water and bottom substrate were collected quarterly from six sites along the ship channel and one station on the San Jacinto River. The sampling stations were selected as non-point source contamination areas. All samples were taken from the channel shelf at locations approximately equidistant from the channel pit edge and the shoreline. This study was proposed to determine diversity and productivity in the macroinvertebrate and microbial populations, which form the base of the food web in this aquatic environment. The data were statistically analyzed using a multiple regression model that included 46 variables and 65 cases.

Description

46 pgs.

Keywords

environmental aspects, houston ship channel

Citation