Seasonal fluctuations in macrobenthic fauna of the Fucus belt in kiel fjord (western baltic sea)

Abstract

The macrobenthic fauna associated with Fucus at a station in the Kiel Fjord was investigated from June 1978 until June 1979. The predominant group in number as well as in biomass were gammarids. They formed, together with the isopods Idotea spp., approximately 95 % of the total average annual biomass. The total dry weight of all macrobenthic animals (excl. Littorina spp.) increased from 1.9 g per kg Fucus in May to about 16 g in June-August, and dropped to 8.3 g in September. Winter average dry weight values were only about 6 % of the summer values. © 1983 Biologische Anstalt Helgoland.