Occurrence and transport of faecal pellets in suspension in a tidal estuary

In the White Shoal area of the James River, Virginia, recognizable faccal pellets formed an average of 0.42% by weight of the total suspended solids at 1 m above the bottom and 0.14% by weight at 1 m below the surface during a 24-hour sampling period. Pellets retained on soil analysis sieves (mesh sizes 125 and 44 μ), however, formed an average of 26.6% and 19.26% by weight, respectively, of the materials retained on the screens at the same depths. The pellets were apparently being transported in suspension. Although quantities in suspension were small, it is suggested that sorting during transportation and deposition could result in accumulation in areas of the estuary where fine sediments would not settle out. Such accumulations on the bottom could alter the textural and chemical characteristics of the existing sediments because of the fine size and chemical properties of the component particles of the pellets.