SUBTIDAL BENTHIC MEIOFAUNA OF PUCK BAY, POLISH BALTIC COAST

Twenty stations along both the coasts of Hel Peninsula (54 degrees 40' N, 18 degrees 40'E) were investigated for the physico-chemical factors and benthic meiofauna. It was observed that stations bordering the Pu ck Bay harboured relatively larger number of meiofauna unlike the open coast, where relatively lesser density was observed. Out of 17 meiobe nthos groups encountered nematodes and harpacticoids were dominant. Hi rudinea, bivalvia and oligochaeta dominated in biomass. Fauna graduall y decreased towards the depth in the vertical core samples of 30cm dep th. At the discharge point of a sewage treatment plant meiofauna was t otally eliminated, whereas the untreated sewage disposal on the beach appeared to enrich meiofauna along the Puck Bay.