Biomass and species richness and the macrobenthic animals living on the tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea: long-term changes during a period with mild winters
Beukema, J.J.; de Bruin, W.; Jansen, J.J.M. (1978). Biomass and species richness and the macrobenthic animals living on the tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea: long-term changes during a period with mild winters. Neth. J. Sea Res. 12(1): 58-77. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0077-7579(78)90025-X
In: Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Groningen; Den Burg. ISSN 0077-7579; e-ISSN 1873-1406, meer
The macrobenthic fauna on the tidal flats in the western half of the Dutch Wadden Sea was sampled quantitatively during 1971-1972 and again during 1977. The two surveys yielded closely similar estimates for total biomass. The composition of the biomass, however, was rather different. Significant declines in the species Mya arenaria, Arenicola marina and Macoma balthica were counterbalanced by increased biomass values for Mytilus edulis, Lanice conchilega, Nephtys hombergii and Angulus tenuis. Species density had increased, both by a higher total number of species and by a significantly increased frequency of occurrence of Angulus tenuis and Lanice conchilega in the samples. The observed changes are analyzed on the basis of results from frequently sampling a limited area during the intervening period. Changes in the macrobenthic fauna in this area well reflected those observed in the whole western Wadden Sea. Failing recruitment was the main cause of the declines, good survival in winter of the rises. In most species these changes could be related to winter temperatures, which were higher than average during the period concerned.
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