Subtidal benthic meiofauna of Puck bay, Polish Baltic coast

Abstract

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 Puck Bay harboured relatively larger number of meiofauna unlike the open coast, where relatively lesser density was observed. Out of 17 meiobenthos groups encountered nematodes and harpacticoids were dominant. Hirudinea, bivalvia and oligochaeta dominated in biomass. Fauna gradually decreased towards the depth in the vertical core samples of 30cm depth. At the discharge point of a sewage treatment plant meiofauna was totally eliminated, whereas the untreated sewage disposal on the beach appeared to enrich meiofauna along the Puck Bay.