European Ocean Biodiversity Information System

To obtain the macrofauna, sediment samples were collected using a sediment samples collected using a Day Grab (Van Veen, 0.1m2) or a Hamon grab (either 0.1m2 or 0.25m2), depending on the area and nature of the sediments. Samples were then immediately sieved on board with running seawater over a 0.5mm and/or 1mm mesh sieve to remove the sediment. After sieving, the samples were preserved in 5% buffered formaldehyde. On return to the laboratory, the samples were washed to remove the formaldehyde and the macrofauna extracted using light microscopy and preserved in 70% Industrial Methylated Spirit. Animals were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible and each taxon enumerated to generate the abundance information. The in some samples, the same animals were then weighed after blotting (wet weight) to the nearest 0.0001g to obtain biomass information.