Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Heincke	HE528	02.04.2019 - 08.04.2019		North Sea

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Dannheim Jennifer	Alfred-Wegener-Institut fur Polar- und Meeresforschung	Bremerhaven	Bremerhaven

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The aim of the cruise was (a) to proceed and thus to conduct the 50th annual sampling of the long-term benthic research program and (b) to investigate the small-scale variability of important benthic functions (e.g. trophic functions, biogeochemical processes/bioturbation) in the area of Sylt outer reef. The results will deliver new knowledge on long-term changes of the benthos due to climatic changes and the spatial distribution of benthic processes and thus via spatial modelling knowledge on the distribution of small-scale benthic processes in the German exclusive economic zone (EEZ). At each of four benthic ecological long-term stations (Fsd, WB, P12, H1) five sediment samples were taken with a 0.1 m² van Veen grab to analyse the local benthic infaunal communities. The samples were sieved through a 500 ?m sieve. A sixth sample was taken to analyse local sedimentological parameters and the bottom temperature was measured. The retained organisms were fixed in 4 % BORAX-buffered formalin. Quantitative (abundance, biomass) taxonomical and sedimentological analysis of the samples will be conducted in the AWI laboratory after the cruise. At each ecological long-term station epifauna was sampled with a 3 m beam trawl (mesh size: 1 cm) which was trawled for ~10 min at a speed of 2-3 knots. Epifauna was directly identified, counted and weighted on board. At three of the four long-term stations, demersal fish was sampled with an otter trawl (15 m opening, towed for ~30 min). Species were sorted, taxonomically identified, counted and weighted. Further, at each station 10 pictures of vertical sediment profiles were taken by a sediment profile imaging camera (SPI camera, see Fig. 3.4). During this cruise, at 15 stations ordered along different levels of sediment patchiness, 10 SPI images per station were taken by ?pogo-sticking'. Station locations were chosen according to side-scan sonar records and sediment maps (provided by Svenja Papenmeier, AWI; Fig. 3.2). Levels of sediment patchiness varied from gravel and very coarse sand to fine sand (see Fig. 3.3). Five of the 20 SPI stations were selected according to different levels of Lanice conchilega abundance, an engineering species that stabilizes the sediment (10 SPI pictures/station). Additionally, during the whole cruise temperature and salinity was recorded with the thermosalinograph onboard of RV Heincke.

Messungen / Measurements