Sample collection
Samples were collected in the Belgian part of the North Sea in autumn
2017 in four different habitats each characterized by a distinct
macrobenthic community (Fig 1): 1/ a fine muddy habitat with low
diversity and low abundances with mainly sessile burrowing dwelling
species (Limecola balthica community, ZVL); 2/a coastal fine sand
habitat, characterized by high diversity and high abundances with mainly
sessile, tube building burrowers (Abra alba community, 120), 3/ a
medium sandy habitat with low taxon richness and low abundances
(Nephtys cirrosa community, 330) and 4/ an offshore coarse sandy
habitat, with medium diversity and low abundances (Hesionura
elongata community, 840). The latter two habitats are characterized by
relatively small, free-living and burrowing macrobenthic species. In
each of the four communities, three replicate Van Veen grabs (A,B and C)
were collected on board of the RV Belgica. The sediment was sieved on
board on a 1 mm sieve. All material (macrobenthos specimens + residue)
that remained on the sieve was fixed in ethanol and stored at -20°C
until further processing.