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Factors influencing the spatial variation in fish and macrocrustacean communities in the surf zone of sandy beaches in Belgium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2002

Bregje Beyst
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Kris Hostens
Affiliation:
Marine Biology Section, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Jan Mees
Affiliation:
Flanders Marine Institute, Victorialaan 3, B-8400 Oostende, Belgium
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Abstract

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An inventory of fish and epibenthic macrocrustaceans of the surf zones of sandy beaches along the Belgian coast was constructed. The surf zones were sampled intensively with a 2-m beam trawl in April–May 1996 (12 stations) and 26 species were recorded belonging to caridean shrimps (4), brachyuran crabs (5), cephalopods (1) and fish (16). The brown shrimp Crangon crangon dominated almost all samples (>80%). Total densities exceeded several times 250 ind 100 m−2 and 10 ind 100 m−2 if C. crangon was excluded. An east–west distinction as found in other (epi)benthic studies in deeper waters of the Belgian coast, was not found in the surf zone during this study. Spatial variation was mainly correlated with local characteristics such as turbidity of the water and the morphodynamic features of both the beach and the adjacent subtidal area.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2002 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom