National Status and Trends: Bioeffects Program - Kachemak Bay Database

This study was based on the sediment quality triad (SQT) approach. A stratified probabilistic sampling design was utilized
to characterize the Kachemak Bay system in terms of chemical contamination, sediment toxicity and benthic
infaunal community structure. The purpose was to define the extent and magnitude of toxicity and other biological effects associated
with contaminants in the Kachemak Bay system. Five strata (Homer harbor, Western intertidal, Western
subtidal, Eastern intertidal, and Eastern subtidal) were established in the shallow (less than 10 fathoms) northern area of the bay.
Sediment samples were collected at multiple stations in each strata. A broad suite of sediment contaminants
were analyzed at each station, including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides including DDT and its metabolites,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trace elements, and butyl-tins Other parameters included
grain size analysis, total organic/inorganic carbon (TOC/TIC), and percent solids. Characterization of infaunal assemblages and the abundance
of organisms present in sediments provide additional information to help determine areas of
degraded sediments. Whole sediment toxicity bioassays with two species of amphipod were conducted to test for overt contaminant toxicity.
This project provides invaluable baseline data on sediment infauna species richness, chemical
contamination and toxicity that is georeferenced and posted on the internet through the NOAA's National Status and Trends data portal. These datasets were archived as part of the North Pacific Research Board legacy project recovery effort undertaken by Axiom Data Science and NPRB in 2025. The goal of the recovery effort was to assess the NPRB-funded data projects from 2002 to 2014 and archive final data packages that were ready for publication to increase long-term accessibility and discoverability. Data packages were archived as is given limited funding and resources.

本研究基于沉积物质量三重法（Sediment Quality Triad, SQT）开展，采用分层概率抽样设计，对卡彻马克湾（Kachemak Bay）系统的化学污染状况、沉积物毒性及底栖内栖生物群落结构进行表征。研究旨在明确卡彻马克湾系统内与污染物相关的毒性效应及其他生物影响的范围与程度。研究在该海湾浅水区（水深小于10英寻）的北部区域划定了5个分层：荷马港、西部潮间带、西部潮下带、东部潮间带及东部潮下带。在每个分层的多个采样站位采集沉积物样品。对每个站位的多种沉积物污染物开展分析，涵盖多环芳烃（polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs）、包括滴滴涕（DDT）及其代谢物在内的氯代农药、多氯联苯（polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs）、痕量元素以及丁基锡类化合物。其余检测参数还包括粒度分析、总有机碳/总无机碳（TOC/TIC）以及固体百分含量。对沉积物内栖生物群落组成及其中生物丰度进行表征，可为识别沉积物退化区域提供辅助信息。本研究采用两种端足类（amphipod）动物开展全沉积物毒性生物测试，以检测显性污染物毒性。本项目生成了极具价值的基线数据，涵盖沉积物内栖生物物种丰富度、化学污染及毒性状况，所有数据均带有地理坐标，并通过美国国家海洋和大气管理局（National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA）下属的国家状况与趋势数据门户发布至互联网。2025年，由Axiom Data Science与北太平洋研究委员会（North Pacific Research Board, NPRB）牵头开展的北太平洋研究委员会遗留项目数据恢复工作中，本项目的数据集已完成归档。此次数据恢复工作的目标是对2002年至2014年间由北太平洋研究委员会资助的数据项目进行评估，并将已具备发布条件的最终数据包完成归档，以提升数据的长期可访问性与可发现性。鉴于资金与资源有限，所有数据包均按原始状态完成归档。