IMIS - Marine Research Groups

This dataset contain the macrobenthic data collected in the intertidal area. Macrobenthos are the biota that lives in the sediment and are retained on a sieve of 1mm. The sampling design for the monitoring is following the BACI-design (Before After Control Impact), with a control area with similar habitat characteristics outside the influence of the suppletion activity. There is sampled before the suppletion and in the following two years after suppletion. In this BACI-monitoring, the seasonal aspect is taken into account, by taking samples in spring (March) and autumn (September). The amount of sampling locations was determined by the client and determines 15 points for each sampling moment. The 15 samples were taken by starting at high tide and ending at low tide and making a V-form pattern. The samples are taken by a metal frame with a size of 0.1026m². This frame is pushed into the sand, above the swash zone until a depth of 15cm. The sediment and fauna is excavated and put on a sieve with a 1mm mesh size. The sieving occurs in the sea and the sieved material is put into a plastic pot and fixed with an 8% formaldehyde-seawater solution. The samples were stained with bengaals roze. All biota were determined and counted to species level following a standardized taxonomic discrimination protocol. This to determine the determination level and if certain life stages (larvae, juveniles) need to be discriminated. The biomass is determined as wet weight. All macrobenthic samples were taken following the ISO16665:2005(E)) (“Water quality – Guidelines for quantitative sampling and sample processing of marine soft-bottom macrofauna”).