Scale-dependent recovery was also demonstrated by differences in species assemblage structure over the course of the experiment. Most common species revealed significant relationships between density and disturbance plot size. As the sandflat used for the experiment was prone to disturbance by wind-driven waves, we also measured changes in sediment bed height (an indicator of sediment stability) over the course of the experiment. Three different plot sizes (0.203 m2, 0.81 m2, and 3.24 m2) were dafaunted, and samples were collected to assess recovery over a 9-mo period. We designed a field experiment to test how differences in the aerial extent of disturbance affected macrofaunal recolonization on a sandflat. An important ecological issue is developing an understanding of how patterns and processes vary with scale.
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