Effects of 30 years of sand extraction on the structural characteristics of the macrofauna communities of the Kwintebank (Belgian Continental Shelf)

The impact of sand extraction depends on numerous abiotic and biotic factors - including the macrofauna community type present - and might be site specific.The data gathered by the Sea Fisheries Department during the past 10 years (1996-2004) at different sampling stations in sand extraction zone II give an idea of the global and neighbourhood stability of the macrobenthic community of the Kwintebank during that period. No major changes in species richness, abundance or macrobenthic community structure could be detected during the last decennium. It is assumed that the macrobenthic community o... Mehr ...