A traditional taxonomic approach coupled to a biological traits analysis was conducted in order to provide a new insight into macrobenthic communities associated with subtidal sandy environments. Results suggest that the macro-scale distribution of benthic communities is mainly driven by the migration rate of bedforms (sandbank, barchan dune and transversal dune) which changes the sediment grain size and reduces macrobenthic diversity. A classic scheme of species/traits succession was also observed from less to more physically disturbed areas. Finally, the high frequency of migration events homogenized macrobenthic communities between the troughs to the crest of bedforms. As bedforms areas are targeted for the commissioning of offshore windfarms the information provided by the present paper will be particularly useful to implement the environmental impact assessment required for such activities at sea.

进行了结合生物特征分析的传统分类学方法，以提供对与潮下带沙质环境相关的大型底栖动物群落的新见解。结果表明，底栖群落的宏观分布主要受底质（沙洲、新月形沙丘和横向沙丘）的迁移速率驱动，改变了沉积物粒度，降低了大型底栖生物多样性。从较少到较多的物理干扰区域也观察到了经典的物种/性状继承方案。最后，高频率的迁移事件使海槽到床型顶部之间的大型底栖动物群落均质化。