Macrobenthic enrichment around a gravity based foundation
Coates, D.; Deschutter, Y.; Vincx, M.; Vanaverbeke, J. (2013). Macrobenthic enrichment around a gravity based foundation, in: Degraer, S. et al. (Ed.) Environmental impacts of offshore wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea: Learning from the past to optimise future monitoring programmes. pp. 141-151
In: Degraer, S.; Brabant, R.; Rumes, B. (Ed.) (2013). Environmental impacts of offshore wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea: Learning from the past to optimise future monitoring programmes. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Marine Ecology and Management Section: Brussels. ISBN 978-90-9027-928-2. 239 pp.
Epifaunal growth and changing hydrodynamics alter the softsubstrate and macrobenthic community around a foundation. The sediment and macrobenthos was sampled close to a foundation from 2010 to 2012. Observations were most notable on the Southwest side with changes recorded up to 50 meter distance. A decrease in sediment grain size and increase of organic matter content was observed, together with an enriched macrobenthic community with a dominance of hard substrate related species. However, average densities of two bristle worms increased in comparison to the baseline studies, resulting in a young and dynamic macrobenthic community evolving away from the original (Nephtys cirrosa) community.
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