We compared changes in the benthos associated with discharges from a salmon farm at a low-flow location in Pelorus Sound, Aotearoa-New Zealand to the Pearson and Rosenberg model (PRM). As predicted by PRM, benthic enrichment resulted in significant increases in abundance of small, opportunistic macrofauna beneath salmon farm cages. In contrast, at reference sites we found fewer but larger, rare species. When estimates for biomass were calculated from macrofaunal size-classes, reference sites averaged 4.86 times more biomass and 4.35 times greater diversity than farm sites – results also consistent with the PRM. Farm sites favoured deposit feeders at the expense of suspension feeders and grazers. We discuss the significance of large rare species that contributed most to reference biomass estimates that appear under threat from multiple anthropogenic stressors.

我们将与新西兰奥特罗阿州Pelorus Sound的低流量位置的鲑鱼养殖场的排放相关的底栖动物变化与Pearson and Rosenberg模型（PRM）进行了比较。正如PRM所预测的，底栖生物富集导致鲑鱼养殖场网箱下的小型，机会性大型动物的数量大量增加。相反，在参考地点，我们发现数量较少但较大的稀有物种。从大型动物的规模分类中计算生物量的估计值时，参考地点的生物量平均比农场地点高4.86倍，多样性比农场高4.35倍-结果也与PRM一致。农场场所偏爱沉积物给料机，却以悬浮给料机和放牧者为代价。