Structure and toaxonomic composition of subtidal meio- and macrofauna at four NMMP stations around the UK coast

摘要

The diversity and structure of meiobenthic nematodes and macrobenthic infauna were studied at four widely spaced subtidai National Marine Monitoring Programme (NMMP) sites in relation to a number of measured environmental variables. Similar benthic assemblages were encountered in comparable environmental conditions. The distribution of nematode and macrofauna species was mainly governed by the geographical location of the habitat and the granulometric composition of the substrate. There was no evidence of any adverse effect on the measures of benthic assemblage structure arising from trace metal concentrations in the sediment, indicating the relatively unpolluted nature of all locations. Both types of benthic assemblages exhibited stable patterns over time periods of three years.