MODIFICATION OF CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANICALLY ENRICHED SEDIMENT BY CAPITELLA SP-I

The influence of biological activities of a deposit feeding polychaete, Capitella sp. I to the chemical characteristics of the organically enriched sediment was examined in the laboratory experiments. The laboratory colonies of Capitella increased very rapidly in the organically enriched sediment of the culturing boxes. In the process of the rapid population growth, the biological activities of the worms apparently promoted the decomposition of organic matter in the sediment, and decreased the levels of acid volatile sulphide (AVS) in the sediment. The results of the present study indicate that the effect of Capitella imposed on the sediment may be a method of biological treatment of the organically polluted sediment.