Zonation of Macrofauna Across Sandy Beaches and Surf Zones Along the Dutch Coast

Benthic macrofauna communities were sampled and abiotic characteristics were identified at nine beaches and two transects in the surf zone along Dutch beaches. These beaches are mesotidal and disspative, with low RTR, indicating that they are not dominated by tides. The beaches were characterized as sheltered to moderately exposed. In the north, beaches are dissipative, flat, fine-grained, and sustain high densities of multiple benthic macrofaunal species. Along the west, beaches are steeper, have larger grains, and lower species abundance and diversity. Species diversity and abundance are low in the surf zone, increasing toward deep water. A pattern of zonation characterized by different fauna is indicated, including a supralittoral zone, a midshore zone, a lower shore zone, and a zone of sublittloral fauna in the trough within the surf zone.