Abstracts Earth and Environmental Sciences

Organic matter quality in North Sea sediments

by Birgit Dauwe

In order to establish a direct link between organic matter inputs to marine coastal areas and the macrobenthic community structure, essential data on the degradation state and biovailability of sedimentary organic matter in combination with the local macrobenthic community were gathered. Linking biogeomical sediment parameters and macrofaunal characteristics is especially important to improve our understanding of the potantial effects of increased carbon loading related directly (sewage discharge) or indirectly (eutrophication) to human activity in the coastal zone. ... Zie: Summary