Two Decades of Marine Biological Monitoring, Palos Verdes, California, 1972 to 1992

Abstract

Approximately 1.25 x 10^ meters^ (330 million gallons) of treated <br /><br />wastewaters are discharged daily onto the Palos Verdes Shelf, off Los Angeles. <br /><br />Routine intensive marine environmental monitoring began in 1 972. A brief review <br /><br />of effluent emissions, Palos Verdes topography, natural disturbances (El Nino, <br /><br />storms), and sediment histories will provide background for a 20-year summary <br /><br />of the Palos Verdes biota: benthic infauna, epibenthic megain vertebrates, demersal <br /><br />fish, kelp, and fish tissue contamination. Dramatic improvements are evident. <br /><br />Diverse biological assemblages are more widespread. Dover sole fin erosion has <br /><br />disappeared and kelp beds flourish. Decreased but continuing bioaccumulation <br /><br />of DDTs and PCBs is a concern, however. Historic discharges of these chlorinated <br /><br />hydrocarbons persist in a partly buried sediment reservoir.