Spatial distribution of oligochaetes (Clitellata) in the tidal freshwater and brackish parts of the Schelde estuary (Belgium)

The benthic fauna of the Belgian part of the polluted Schelde estuary, called the Zeeschelde, was studied in September-October 1996 at 143 stations along 35 transects. This study is part of the OMES research program, funded by the Flemish Government, to build an ecosystem model of the Zeeschelde in order to help policy makers to decide upon the future of this unique estuarine system. Of all organisms retained on a 250 µm mesh-size, oligochaetes were co-dominant in the mesohaline part and the only dominant group in the tidal freshwater zone. The oligochaete fauna of the ß-mesohaline zone consis... Mehr ...