IMIS

Macrobenthos samples taken with a VV grab (0,1 m²) at the BPNS at three sand extraction sites (Thorntonbank, Hinderbanken and Oostdyck) along an intensity gradient of sand extraction at each sand bank and at control locations. Objective is to investigate whether DNA based methods allow for impact assessment of sand extraction. From each sampling location, grain size and environmental metadata (e.g. coordinates, depth, temperature, salinity,...) are available as well. From Thorntonbank samples, both morphological macrobenthos (species, count, biomass) and DNA sequences are available. From Oostdyck and Hinderbanken only DNA sequences from the macrobenthos are available.