Sediment profile imaging of soft substrates in the Western Mediterranean the extent and importance of faunal reworking

A first demonstration of sediment profile imagery (SPI) in the open water of the Mediterranean was recently undertaken in the Baie de Banyuls and adjacent waters, on the south coast of France. The results drew attention to the apparently high biological activity of the benthic infauna as evidenced by imaged structures such as extensive gallery systems and feeding voids. Burrows were clearly visible down to 18 cm, well below the penetration depths of traditional grab sampling devices. The ability to make useful inferences about animal-sediment relations from the images using an established paradigm of soft-bottom macrofaunal succession, the speed and ease of deployment of the SPI camera in muddy deposits and the short interval required for data processing, commend SPI as a powerful benthic reconnaissance and survey tool which can be used to very good effect in the Mediterranean.