To create a new artificial shallow area in a hypoxic bay, we propose methods to determine the depth for the
area and how to evaluate its effectiveness. The study was conducted in Mikawa Bay, Japan, which is a semienclosed
sea and is regularly nutrient enriched. As a result, in summer, serious hypoxia is observed in the bottom
layer, which becomes progressively lethal to the macrobenthos. Therefore the aim of developing a new shallow
area should be to avoid hypoxia.
To determine the depth of the shallow area to be newly created, we analysed field data such as macrobenthos,
water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration. We then used those results to estimate the survival rate
of the short-necked clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), which depends on water temperature, dissolved oxygen
concentration and glycogen content in the body. We proposed that the depth of the artificial area should be where
the survival rate for the short-necked clam will be over 70%. The effect of constructing the shallow area was
assessed on the basis of the water purification function, which is defined by the removal of particulate organic
nitrogen by macrobenthos.
All field data and numerical results, which predicted the effects of constructing the new shallow area, were
managed in a Geographic Information System (GIS). The new methods and evaluation criteria presented in this
paper have both environmental and economic merits.
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