We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Differential response of macrozoobenthos to marine sand extraction in the North Sea and the Western Mediterranean.
- Authors
Dalfsen, J. A. van; Essink, K.; Madsen, H. Toxvig; Birklund, J.; Romero, J.; Manzanera, M.
- Abstract
Sublittoral benthic coastal communities of the North Sea and of the Western Mediterranean were studied before and after sand extraction between 1993 and 1995 at borrow sites in Denmark, The Netherlands, and Spain. Recolonization of disturbed areas was fast owing to the rapid increase of opportunistic species. At the North Sea sites, the benthic community largely recovered within 2–4 years, whereas in Spain recovery is expected to take longer. The response of zoobenthos to sand extraction is discussed, taking into account differences in site characteristics, extraction methods, and recovery time of the habitats. The effects on the benthic community appear to be related to the physical impact on the sea floor. Small-scale disturbances in seabed morphology and sediment composition result in short-term effects on the benthic community. However, larger disturbances mainly caused by sediment composition may have a prolonged effect, particularly in low dynamic systems such as those present in the Mediterranean.
- Subjects
NORTH Sea; WESTERN Mediterranean; SUBLITTORAL ecology; BENTHOS; MARINE sciences; AQUATIC biology
- Publication
ICES Journal of Marine Science / Journal du Conseil, 2000, Vol 57, Issue 5, p1439
- ISSN
1054-3139
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1006/jmsc.2000.0919