North Sea Coast: the zone along the Dutch coast between the high tide mark and 20 km offshore.

Sediment grain size parameters; Zoobenthos dry weight biomass; Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance

Unconsolidated sediment corers; optical microscopes; X-ray diffractometers

MON*BIO is a part of the Monitoring programme of the National Water Systems (in Dutch : Monitoring Waterstaatkundige Toestand des Lands; MWTL) The primary goal of the MWTL programme is to provide physical, chemical and biological information in relation to long term developments. So the focal point for the monitoring programme is based on trend detection. Another aim is to check the compliance to national and international assessment criteria. The Dutch marine and brackish waters are dived into areas. In field GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE the area is mentioned. In this part of the MON*BIO programme is divided in littoral and sublittoral. The starting date mentioned is not necessarily the same for every parameter or location this can differ from one parameter or location to another. The given date is the first year data is available of one or more locations. During the given period more or less locations can be inspected due to changes in the national monitoring programme. All inspections are carried out by Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's). The frequency of collecting the samples is once or twice a year. Sublittoral: This programme started in 1991. For actual planning: www.waterplan.nl

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