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Biomass of macrobenthic tidal flat fauna of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania

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Abstract

The biomass of the benthic macrofauna of the tidal flats of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, retained by a sieve of 0.6 mm, has been estimated. The total biomass amounts to about 17.0 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) m−2 in the area sampled (about 300 km2). The large bivalve Anadara senilis is responsible for 8.1 g AFDW m−2, over 100 other species for another 8.9 g m−2. The largest biomasses are found near the continental shore; at the offshore tidal flats benthic filter-feeders are lacking. Seagrass beds, which occupy the larger part of the tidal flats, have an under average biomass. Sebkhas, extremely saline flats above mean high-water mark, contain no live animals. To sustain the consumption of benthic prey by the very abundant wintering shorebirds relatively low P/B ratios are sufficient.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DLO, Institute for Forestry and Nature Research, P.O. Box 46, 3956, ZR, Leersum, The Netherlands

    W. J. Wolff

  2. Dept. of Nature Conservation, Agricultural University, P.O. Box 8080, 6700, DD, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    W. J. Wolff, A. G. Duiven & G. Moerland

  3. DLO, Institute for Forestry and Nature Research, 1790, AD, Den Burg, P.O. Box 167, Texel, The Netherlands

    A. G. Duiven, A. Meijboom, G. Moerland & J. Zegers

  4. Stichting Internationaal Wad- en Watervogelonderzoek, c/o Driebergseweg 16c, 3708, JB Zeist, The Netherlands

    P. Duiven & P. Esselink

  5. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790, AB Den Burg, The Netherlands

    P. Duiven

  6. Parc National du Banc d'Arguin, P.O. Box 124, Nouadhibou, Mauritania

    Abou Gueye

Authors
  1. W. J. Wolff
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  2. A. G. Duiven
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  3. P. Duiven
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  4. P. Esselink
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  5. Abou Gueye
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  6. A. Meijboom
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  7. G. Moerland
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  8. J. Zegers
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Wolff, W.J., Duiven, A.G., Duiven, P. et al. Biomass of macrobenthic tidal flat fauna of the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania. Hydrobiologia 258, 151–163 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00006193

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