Fine-scale geomorphological mapping of sandbank environments for the prediction of macrobenthic occurrences, Belgian part of the North Sea

Fine-scale geomorphological mapping is demonstrated to be able to predict macrobenthos occurrences within shallow sandbank areas of the Belgian part of the North Sea. Very-high resolution side-scan sonar imagery was obtained covering a subtle grain size gradient from mud to coarse sands. Differences in reflectivity and texture patterns were discriminated. Interpretation in terms of bedforms and sedimentary characteristics led to 15 acoustic facies, which were further related to macrobenthic community occurrences. Successful validation over the entire Belgian coastal zone promotes its use for classifying sandbank environments. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that side-scan sonar and multibeam technology can be used to directly map reefs of tube-building polychaetes, such as Lanice conchilega and Owenia fusiformis. These ecosystem engineers are key species within hotspots of biodiversity among inter- and subtidal soft sediment environments of the North Sea.

ISBN:9780123851406

Publication year:2012

Accessibility:Closed