The macrozoobenthos of an important wintering area of the common scoter (Melanitta nigra)

In October 1994, 39 macrobenthic samples, divided between two areas, were t aken on the western Belgian Coastal Banks. The two areas could not be clear ly divided, concerning their macrobenthic communities. Multivariate techniq ues revealed five coherent communities, linked with typical sedimentologica l factors: (1) the Barnea candida community in a very compact muddy sedimen t (median 14 mu m); (2) a second community characterized by the presence of spat of Mytilus edulis, With a medium sandy sediment (median 456 mu m); (3 ) the Lanice conchilega community inhabiting a fine sandy sediment (median 211 mu m); (4) the Nephtys cirrosa-Echinocardium cordatum community in a co arser fine sandy sediment (median 242 mu m); and (5), closely related to th e latter, the N: cirrosa community also occurring in a fine sandy sediment (median 224 mu m). Only the L. conchilega community belongs to the diverse transition zone. The other four communities seem to be part of the heteroge neous, species-poor coastal zone associations, nTo open sea communities hav e been detected in the area. On the western Coastal Banks only the L. conchilega community, because of t he high numbers of Abra alba, Tellina fabula, and Spisula subtruncata, can be interesting as feeding grounds for the common scoter (Melanitta nigra (A ves: Mergini)). Comparison of the spatial distribution of the wintering com mon scoters and the L. conchilega community revealed no direct similarity T he factors possibly causing this dissimilarity have been discussed.