Benthic Survey Macrofauna Abundance and Biomass Data, as part of the Western Channel Observatory, UK, between 2008 and 2019.

This data set contains benthic macrofaunal abundance and biomass data collected as part of the Western Channel Observatory (WCO). Initiated in 2008, the Western Channel Observatory Benthic Survey based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory is an ongoing ecological time-series, currently supported by funding as part the NERC National Capability CLASS programme. Macrofaunal samples have been taken from six sites within Plymouth sound and further offshore. Since 2011 sampling effort has predominantly focused on the marine biodiversity reference site, station L4. Two sites are muddy (Jennycliff and Rame) and four have sandy sediments (Cawsand, Eddystone, L4 and Plymouth deep). The Plymouth deep site was identified and added to the Benthic Survey in order to investigate the prior and post biological impacts following the deposition of dredge material removed from river Tamar docks.
Macrofaunal samples were collected using a box corer or grab (0.1 m³). On recovery and transportation to Plymouth Marine Laboratory all faunal samples were fixed and preserved with 10% buffered formaldehyde solution. All fauna was extracted, identified to species or the lowest taxonomic denomination using stereo and compound microscopy and the abundance recorded. Biomass (blotted wet weight) was measured for each recorded taxon to the nearest 0.00001 g.