Vertical and horizontal distribution of the metazoan microfauna and of some physical factors in a sandy beach in the northern part of the Öresund

Abstract

During a summer course on marine microfauna the vertical and horizontal distribution of the interstitial metazoan fauna and of some physical and chemical factors (salinity, temperature, oxygen, water contents) were studied above the water line in a sandy beach in the northern part of the Öresund. Seventy-one species of micro-metazoans could be recognized in the beach. Fourty-three of these were nematodes. This group was also quantitatively dominating: out of a total of 2874 sampled individuals, 1584 were nematodes. The horizontal and vertical distribution of a number of species could be correlated with the distribution of salinity, water contents and oxygen. In the case of some of the oligochaete and harpacticoid species the interpretations of the distributions could be supported by preference and tolerance experiments described in the literature.