Monitoring coastal sites on Rabbit Island adjacent to sludge disposal areas to assess for impacts.

Temporal coverage: 1996-2008 (on-going)

Number of sites: 12 transects Waimea Estuary

Sampling Frequency: 5 yearly Bi-annual visual inspections until 2003 & then not until 2006

Main marine environment sampled: Estuarine

Depth zone: Intertidal

Sediment type: Soft

Community association: Mud

Sampling method: Sediment and macrofaunal cores, shellfish collection, field observations

Parameters collected: Sediment, shellfish, epi- & in-fauna, macrophytes

Measured variables: Sediment: N&P concentrations, particle size, metals, organic content; Shellfish: metal content, faecal indicator bacteria; Community: epi- & in-fauna abundance and diversity; Macrophyte: diversity, % cover

Species/Community data: Benthic invertebrates, algae

Other data collected: Unknown

Collection: ongoing

Quality assurance: Yes