2.2. Sampling procedure
Macrobenthic organisms were sampled in January 2001
(approximately 4 years before the tsunami), February 2005 (2 months
after the tsunami), and December 2006 (approximately 2 years after
the tsunami). The sampling was carried out during low tide. The sites
were approached either on foot (under emerged conditions) or by
snorkeling (under submerged conditions). A research plot approximately 50 m by 50 m in size containing areas with both seagrass
vegetation and nonvegetated gaps was established at each site. At K3,
samples were collected only from nonvegetated areas in 2005 and
2006 because no vegetated areas remained.
At each site, 5 replicate cores were collected randomly from
a seagrass-vegetated area and a nonvegetated area using a 15-cmdiameter (PVC) corer. Cores were inserted into the sediment to
a depth of 20 cm, resulting in a sampling area of 177 cm2 (2540 cm3
in volume). Five replicates were taken in each vegetation type in
2001, 2005, and 2006. Macrobenthic samples were sieved through
a 0.5-mm mesh sieve. All animals retained on the sieve were
transferred to polyethylene bags and fixed with a 10% seawater–
formalin solution. In the laboratory, macrobenthic animals were
sorted and transferred to 80% ethanol for identification and
counting. All organisms were classified into lower taxonomic levels
using available taxonomic keys, (see Appendix 1) and the number
of individuals in each taxon was counted.
To determine the grain size composition of the sediment, 5
replicate sediment samples were collected from each site and
vegetation type using a 5-cm-diameter PVC corer to a depth of