The structural biodiversity of the hyperbenthos of subtidal sandbanks on the BCS is studied. Furthermore, ecological indicator species are determined which can be usefull parameters for policy makers.

The spatio-temporal distribution of the hyperbenthos communities of the North Sea as well as the regulating factors shaping these communities were studied.

Comparison dataset of Animalia in the North Sea, the English Channel and the Celtic Sea.

The hyperbenthic community of subtidal sandbanks is described (density, species composition) and related to abiotic variables in order to get an idea about the habitats and the biota of the sandbanks.

This is the first study on the epi- and hyperbenthic fauna of the surf zone of sandy beaches of the Belgian coast. Therefore, as a first objective of this thesis, a lot of attention has been paid to the inventarisation (species composition), and to the investigation of the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of both communities. A temporal and a spatial campaign were performed during which the hyper- and epibenthos was sampled.

Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of the epi- and hyperbenthic community were studied at the monitoring stations on the Belgian Continental Shelf.

The global objective of this project is to deliver a substantial contribution to the knowledge of the long term variability in the biodiversity of the macrobenthos and the relationship with anthropogenic activities on the Belgian Continental Shelf.