Monitoring effects of simulated disturbance at INDEX site: Current status and future activities

Abstract

During the Indian Deep-Sea Environment Experiment (INDEX), greater than 6000 cu.m of sediment was resuspended 5 m above seafloor. Data collected from deep-towed photography, sediment traps, sediment coring and CTD operations before and after the experiment in 1997, as well as photography and coring during 2001 and 2002 (only coring) were used out to evaluate the immediate effects of benthic disturbance and subsequent restoration of benthic environment. Results from sedimentological, geotechnical, geochemical, biochemical, microbiological and benthos analyses indicate a complex process of partial restoration of conditions and selective recolonisation of the benthic environment