Benthic Invertebrates Protocol
Purpose
Characterizing benthic invertebrates that live in intertidal sediments can give valuable information on the habitat of the beach. Benthic invertebrates are important components of the nearshore food web, and are good indicators of biodiversity and physical parameters. Invertebrate assemblages may change depending on shoreline armoring, sediment types, and movement of sediments. Benthic core sampling can be concurrent with quadrat sampling of surface epifauna and algae, and sediment sampling.
Protocol
Download the full protocol in the attachment below which is designed for beaches that have a mixture of sand, pebbles and cobbles that typify Puget Sound. The recommended protocol is based on methods used in the SCALE project that target adult macro-infauna. Altering details of the sampling such as the transect elevation or sieve size may be necessary depending on the project goals and target invertebrates (e.g., see publication from the Seahurst Park restoration site).