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The Macrobenthic Infauna of the Offshore Northern North Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

A. Eleftheriou  and
D.J. Basford
A. Eleftheriou
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Crete, PO Box 1470, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece
D.J. Basford
Affiliation:
Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB9 8DB
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Extract

Between 1980 and 1985 ninety-seven stations were sampled by Smith-Mclntyre grab from the offshore northern section of the North Sea. Four hundred and nine infaunal species were identified from the 76 selected macrofaunal stations. The number of species per station varied from 25 to 80 with a maximum abundance of 9,600 individuals m−2. The biomass ranged from 0.13 to 18.86 g dry weight m−2. At most stations, however, biomass varied between 1 and 4 g dry weight m−2. Diversity and abundance were highest in the 120–140 m zone, characterised by fine sand containing variable amounts of silt. The highest biomasses were recorded in two areas; firstly where stronger currents predominate and the sediments are coarser (east of Shetland and west of the Norwegian Trough), and secondly in the fine sandy deposits of the centrally located area. In the silty sediments (Fladen Ground and smaller depressions) there was a predominantly subsurface deposit-feeding community, whereas in the coarser area east of the Shetlands carnivores predominated. Over the remaining area surface deposit feeders were dominant.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 69 , Issue 1 , February 1989 , pp. 123 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1989

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