IMIS

This dataset contains information on meiobenthos in general and nematodes and copepods more specifically. There is also a lot of information available on environmental variables, on feeding types of nematodes and biometric data. All these data will be analysed together, in order to reveal any ecological and latitudinal aspects in the biodiversity of meiobenthic diversity in general and nematode biodiversity more specific. This comprehensive dataset will also serve as the basis for future updates of the European Register of Marine Species (ERMS). By adding ecological and geographical information, a first large-scale analysis of the nematode communities in European marine waters can be performed, aimed at

• assessing large-scale meiobenthic biodiversity patterns in European marine waters
• identifying the structuring factors of meiobenthic assemblages on a large geographical scale vs. the importance of locally varying variables within habitat type or limited geographical area
• assessing the role of anthropogenic drivers (e.g. various types of disturbance) for differences in large-scale meiobenthic distribution patterns
• testing the performance of functional attributes of nematode assemblages in assessing the potential effects of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on benthic systems
• gaining insight in meiobenthic species assembly rules to increase the understanding of the high diversity within the meiofaunal taxa.