Within-year spatio-temporal variation in meiofaunal abundance and community structure, Sinop Bay, the Southern Black Sea

The first comprehensive meiobenthos study was carried out in Turkey, the Southern Black Sea (Sinop) from August 2009 to July 2010. Sediment samples were collected monthly at eight stations at 3 m and 10 m water depths located on four transects. A metal push core sampler (surface area 12.56 cm(2) and length 10 cm) was used to obtain the material. Meiofaunal abundance and composition were examined. The results revealed that the meiofaunal community consists of twenty five higher taxonomic groups. Four groups dominated the community: Nematoda, Harpacticoida, Foraminifera and Polychaeta. Spatial and temporal meiofaunal abundance fluctuated among stations and over time.