Seasonal fluctuations and production of nematode communities in the Belgian coastal zone of the North Sea

Nematodes are the most abundant multicellular animals in marine sediments; they are also the only metazoans, which survive in heavily polluted areas. The seasonal fluctuations of the nematode community of a heavily polluted silty sand station along the Belgian east coast was examined based on the monthly samples during 1983-1985. The mean density of the total community varied between 55 ind./10 cm 2 (Feb.1983) and 5610 ind./10 cm 2 (Jun.1985). 32 species were found in this station; only four species have a frequency higher than 50 %. They are all non-selective deposit-feeders. Reproduction app... Mehr ...