IMIS

Investigations of benthic macrofauna, in particular from soft sediments, have a long tradition, with the first quantitative studies in Scandinavian waters performed over 100 years ago. Benthic macrofauna is important as food for demersal fish, the cycling of organic matter and contaminants, and not the least as an indicator of environmental quality. Benthic macrofauna is normally defined as organisms retained on 1 mm (European standard) or 0.5 mm sieves. It includes invertebrates over a wide size spectrum; from large crustaceans like Norway Lobster and large bivalves like the Ocean Quahog, to small worms like polychaetes and ligochaetes. Benthic macrofauna also forms a substantial part of marine biodiversity, with more than 500 species in the soft sediments of Kattegat and the Danish estuaries.