Short-term changes in nematode communities from an abandoned intense sand extraction site on the Kwintebank (Belgian continental shelf) two years post-cessation

Published source details Vanaverbeke J. & Vincx M. (2008) Short-term changes in nematode communities from an abandoned intense sand extraction site on the Kwintebank (Belgian continental shelf) two years post-cessation. Marine Environmental Research, 66, 240-248.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Cease or prohibit aggregate extraction Action Link

Cease or prohibit aggregate extraction

A before-and-after study in 1978–2004 in one area of soft seabed of the Kwintebank, North Sea, Belgium (Vanaverbeke & Vincx 2008) found that following prohibition of aggregate extraction, nematode worm community composition changed but remained different to that of pre-extraction after 8–12 months, and worm abundance and diversity did not change. Community composition after cessation was different to that of during intense extraction, but also to that of before intense extraction began (presented as graphical analyses). Worm abundance and diversity were similar before and 8–12 months after extraction stopped and ranged between 84 and 228/10 cm² (abundances for each time period not presented; diversity reported as 10 different indices). In February 2003, extraction was prohibited where aggregate extraction had occurred since 1976. Two to three stations were sampled in 1978 (prior extraction intensification), in 1997 and 2001 (during intense extraction), and in October 2003 and February 2004 (eight and 12 months after extraction stopped, respectively). Sediment samples were collected using a 10 cm² core, and nematode worms (between 38 µm and 1 mm) identified and counted.

(Summarised by: Anaëlle Lemasson)