Annotated checklist and biodiversity analysis of benthic fauna at Sylt Outer Reef and Borkum Reef Ground (North Sea)

Benthic fauna caught by ring dredge and 2 m beam trawl at the NATURA 2000 Sylt Outer Reef (SAR) Borkum Ground (BRG) sites in North Sea are examined relation to intensity of mobile bottom-trawling fisheries. Samples were taken from 33 stations two areas, collected benthic fauna, consisting infauna, epifauna, demersal fish was determined. A total 123 species found, phyla Chordata, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Annelida, Cnidaria, Bryozoa, with Chordata Mollusca being most species-rich phyla. The compositions BRG SAR relatively clearly separated. There greater diversity BRG, likely due lower fishing pressure bottom trawling than SAR. Long-term data acquisition analysis will be needed visualize past future changes biodiversity