| Abstract: | The composition and distribution of the macrobenthic polychaete fauna in the Evros Delta (North Aegean Sea) have been investigated by means of 4 replicate quantitative samples collected at 35 sites. 10 species were found and, in additional qualitative samples, the sedentary species Ficopomatus enigmaticus was collected. On the basis of the similarity in distribution among stations, 3 groups of species have been distinguished. One of these groups includes the species Spio decoratus and Hediste diversicolor which were both dominant and present at almost all stations. The distribution of species in the study area seems to depend on factors such as salinity, granulometric composition and organic matter of the sediment and interspecific competition, but mainly on the degree of “confinement”, namely the degree of exchange with the open sea. At the most isolated stations, the lowest number of species and the highest values of abundance and biomass were recorded. |
