| The Belgian Continental Shelf (BCS) is characterized by a set of isolated subtidal sandbank systems, which greatly increase the habitat heterogeneity of the area. The meiobenthos of these sandbanks was investigated during 1997 and 1998. In total, 10 sandbanks have been sampled, belonging to three different geographically isolated systems: the Flemish Banks, the Hinder Banks and the Zeeland Banks. No obvious differences in sedimentological characteristics between the sandbanks were found, but biologically some differences could be detected. The more offshore Hinder Banks had the most diverse meiobenthos, while the Flemish Banks harboured the lowest number of meiobenthic taxa. Seasonal and regional differences in terms of densities are a result of a coupling... |
