Meiobenthos of subtidal sandbanks on the Belgian Continental Shelf (counts, nematode species information, nematode biomass information)

In the framework of the OMEX-programme (Ocean Margin Exchange, CEC-MAST II), data were collected on the metazoan meiobenthos along the continental slope of the Goban Spur.

These data give - for the first time - an overview of the meiofauna that inhabits the slope and the abyssal plains in Antarctic waters to a depth of 5 200 m.

The Darwin mounds area was sampled to investigate the importance of local-scale topographic features and small-scale biogenic structures in influencing the density and diversity of the associated meiobenthic communities and nematodes in particular.

The abundance, biomass and community structure of nematodes along two transpolar transects in the central Artic Ocean were documented.

Focussing on nematode genera, this dataset provides geographically extensive nematode information from one of the largest shelf areas around the Antarctic continent.

This dataset was compiled in the framework of a PhD thesis. It focuses on the copepod density, diversity and community structure in relation to sediment characteristics and depth for one sandbank.

Meiobenthic communities along a depth gradient in the Laptev Sea were sampled in order to identify densities and community compositions. Special attention was paid to the present nematode communities.

The nematode community structure from Malia Bay (north Crete, Aegean Sea) was investigated in order to provide a baseline for the benthic environment prior to the initiation of a domestic sewage outfall into the Bay.

Firstly, one wanted to analyse the response of nematode biomass spectra (NBS) to three distinct stressors upon the sediment habitat and secondly, analysing the NBS in different ways to be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various methods.