Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
6356707 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2015 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

•Marine algae on dephosphorization slag mixed with dredged sediment was examined.•The algal species composition and biomass were influenced by the sediment.•Shear strength and pH of the sediment were higher than those of natural tidal flats.•Dephosphorization slag contributes to changing algal composition and sediment environment.

The use of granular steelmaking slag as a substitute for natural sand in the construction of tidal flats was investigated. Using an intertidal flat simulator, we evaluated dephosphorization slag mixed with 8% by dry weight of dredged sediment (DPS + DS) as a basal medium for the growth of benthic macro- and microalgae in comparison with silica sand mixed with 8% dredged sediment (SS + DS). Species compositions of macro- and microalgae were distinctly different between DPS + DS and SS + DS. The mean dry weight of macroalgae on DPS + DS was three orders of magnitude higher than that on SS + DS. Sediment shear strength and pH were higher in DPS + DS than in SS + DS or in the sediment of natural tidal flats. These results suggest that DPS contributes to changing the sediment environment, thereby changing the algal composition compared to the composition on natural tidal flats.

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Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Earth and Planetary Sciences Oceanography
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