Horizontal zonation patterns and feeding structure of marine nematode assemblages on a macrotidal, ultra-dissipative sandy beach (De Panne, Belgium)

Macrobenthic zonation on sandy beaches has been studied widely, whereas meiobenthic/nematofaunal species richness and zonation patterns have received little attention. We investigated community structure, intertidal zonation of nematode species and feeding structure across a macrotidal, ultra-dissipative, sandy beach (De Panne, Belgium). A total of 88 free-living marine nematode species were recorded along transects. Average nematode densities increased from the upper beach (320 ± 45 ind/10 cm 2 ) towards the low-tidal level (2784 ± 6 ind/10 cm 2 ), which corresponds well to the better-known m... Mehr ...