Sandy macrofaunal assemblages adjacent to rocky reefs on São Miguel Island (Azores, NE Atlantic)

The study was designed to investigate patterns of spatial variation in benthic community structure in relation to proximity to rocky reefs and differences in sediment characteristics. Sampling was conducted in December 2008 at three coastal locations (Água d’Alto, São Roque, and Lagoa).

At each location, sediment cores were collected both adjacent to rocky reefs and 15 m away on sandy substrates. Macrofaunal organisms were sorted, identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level, and quantified, while sediment samples were analysed for grain-size composition. The dataset includes species occurrence and abundance records together with sediment granulometry data, providing information on the composition, diversity, and spatial variability of soft-sediment benthic communities.