Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Beaumont Port Arthur Area

On March 1, 1976, the Bureau of Economic Geology initiated an extensive program of benthic sampling in the State submerged lands (McGowen and Morton, 1979). The state-owned submerged lands of Texas cover nearly 6,000 square miles (15,540 km2) and extend from Mexico to Louisiana. This area includes bays, estuaries, lagoons, and the inner continental shelf located 10.3 miles (16.6 km) seaward of the Gulf shoreline (see fig. 1). Benthic samples were collected at 1-mile (1.6-km) intervals. By January 1978, a total of 6,697 samples had been collected. Sample analysis encompassed textural studies (grain size properties), geochemistry (trace elements and total organic carbon), and biological studies.

This report focuses on the biology of the submerged lands in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area and provides preliminary information on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages and diversity. It serves as a baseline inventory of biological data necessary to predict and assess potential problems and environmental impacts related to energy production, food production, recreation, and transportation.