BulkDNA macrobenthos from sandextraction sites in the Belgian part of the North Sea

Sampling

On each sandbank, macrobenthos was collected by means of a Van Veen grab with a sampled surface area of 0.1 m2, both within the impact areas (subjected to extraction activity) and in nearby reference areas (where no extraction has taken place). In 2019, a total of 78 locations were sampled, and in 2021, 65 locations on the three different sandbanks were sampled. Sampling was performed in September, October or November using different research vessels (RV Belgica 1965, RV Simon Stevin, GeoSurveyor XI or Geo Ocean V). Each sample was sieved alive over a 1-mm sieve, and the residue with the species was preserved in absolute ethanol and stored at -20 ◦C. All samples were decanted 10 times using tap water and a 1 mm sieve in the lab. The specimens on the sieve were stored in absolute ethanol until lab processing.

Method steps

Macrobenthos

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Annelida
   rank: phylum
3. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
4. Echinodermata
   rank: phylum
5. Nemertea
   rank: phylum
6. Cnidaria
   rank: phylum
7. Mollusca
   rank: phylum
8. Chordata
   rank: phylum
9. Polychaeta
   rank: class
10. Malacostraca
    rank: class
11. Echinoidea
    rank: class
12. Enopla
    rank: class
13. Ophiuroidea
    rank: class
14. Pilidiophora
    rank: class
15. rank: class
16. Anthozoa
    rank: class
17. Bivalvia
    rank: class
18. Palaeonemertea
    rank: class
19. Gastropoda
    rank: class
20. Asteroidea
    rank: class
21. Clitellata
    rank: class
22. Sipuncula
    rank: class
23. Leptocardii
    rank: class
24. Spionida
    rank: order
25. Phyllodocida
    rank: order
26. Decapoda
    rank: order
27. Spatangoida
    rank: order
28. Monostilifera
    rank: order
29. Opheliida
    rank: order
30. Amphipoda
    rank: order
31. Ophiurida
    rank: order
32. Polychaeta_incertae_sedis
    rank: order
33. rank: order
34. Heteronemertea
    rank: order
35. Mysida
    rank: order
36. Terebellida
    rank: order
37. Actiniaria
    rank: order
38. Venerida
    rank: order
39. Cumacea
    rank: order
40. Archinemertea
    rank: order
41. Amphilepidida
    rank: order
42. Littorinimorpha
    rank: order
43. Sabellida
    rank: order
44. Forcipulatida
    rank: order
45. Haplotaxida
    rank: order
46. Camarodonta
    rank: order
47. Golfingiida
    rank: order
48. Cardiida
    rank: order
49. Neogastropoda
    rank: order
50. Clypeasteroida
    rank: order
51. Enchytraeida
    rank: order
52. Tubulaniformes
    rank: order
53. Galeommatida
    rank: order
54. Amphioxiformes
    rank: order
55. Spionidae
    rank: family
56. Nephtyidae
    rank: family
57. Processidae
    rank: family
58. Thiidae
    rank: family
59. Glyceridae
    rank: family
60. Loveniidae
    rank: family
61. Tetrastemmatidae
    rank: family
62. Opheliidae
    rank: family
63. Urothoidae
    rank: family
64. Magelonidae
    rank: family
65. Ophiuridae
    rank: family
66. Paraonidae
    rank: family
67. Nereididae
    rank: family
68. Phyllodocidae
    rank: family
69. Lineidae
    rank: family
70. Mysidae
    rank: family
71. Paguridae
    rank: family
72. Bathyporeiidae
    rank: family
73. Tryphosidae
    rank: family
74. Terebellidae
    rank: family
75. Megaluropidae
    rank: family
76. rank: family
77. Porcellanidae
    rank: family
78. Sagartiidae
    rank: family
79. Pectinariidae
    rank: family
80. Cheirocratidae
    rank: family
81. Mactridae
    rank: family
82. Diastylidae
    rank: family
83. Hesionidae
    rank: family
84. Cephalotrichidae
    rank: family
85. Sigalionidae
    rank: family
86. Amphiuridae
    rank: family
87. Portunidae
    rank: family
88. Diogenidae
    rank: family
89. Syllidae
    rank: family
90. Poecilochaetidae
    rank: family
91. Naticidae
    rank: family
92. Pinnotheridae
    rank: family
93. Amphilochidae
    rank: family
94. Galatheidae
    rank: family
95. Oweniidae
    rank: family
96. Pilumnidae
    rank: family
97. Atylidae
    rank: family
98. Capitellidae
    rank: family
99. Asteriidae
    rank: family
100. Ophiotrichidae
     rank: family
101. Corophiidae
     rank: family
102. Polygordiidae
     rank: family
103. Leucothoidae
     rank: family
104. Pseudocumatidae
     rank: family
105. Crangonidae
     rank: family
106. Oedicerotidae
     rank: family
107. Inachidae
     rank: family
108. Caprellidae
     rank: family
109. Pholoidae
     rank: family
110. Bodotriidae
     rank: family
111. Aoridae
     rank: family
112. Naididae
     rank: family
113. Amphiporidae
     rank: family
114. Polybiidae
     rank: family
115. Ischyroceridae
     rank: family
116. Echinidae
     rank: family
117. Melitidae
     rank: family
118. Golfingiidae
     rank: family
119. Cephalothricidae
     rank: family
120. Callianassidae
     rank: family
121. Hubrechtidae
     rank: family
122. Majidae
     rank: family
123. Epitoniidae
     rank: family
124. Tellinidae
     rank: family
125. Nassariidae
     rank: family
126. Fibulariidae
     rank: family
127. Orbiniidae
     rank: family
128. Haustoriidae
     rank: family
129. Donacidae
     rank: family
130. Enchytraeidae
     rank: family
131. Tubulanidae
     rank: family
132. Lasaeidae
     rank: family
133. Polynoidae
     rank: family
134. Protopelagonemertidae
     rank: family
135. Goniadidae
     rank: family
136. Pisionidae
     rank: family
137. Cardiidae
     rank: family
138. Stenothoidae
     rank: family
139. Branchiostomatidae
     rank: family

Belgian part of the North Sea - Hinderbanken, Oostdyck and Thortonbank