I took samples of plants and animals discontinuously (1975-1979) in two sites at Drum Shoals (34o 42�40�N, 76o 46�20�W) in Bogue Sound and two sites at Middle Marsh (34o 41�32�N,76o 37�20W) in Back Sound. Both are sites of eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds located in Carteret County, NC, USA. Drum Shoals is located at least 250 m from the nearest Spartina marsh whereas Middle Marsh sites are located from 10 to 80 m from the nearest Spartina marsh and are almost surrounded by it. To denude plots, I removed sediment to a depth of 5 cm in 120 squares (0.25 m2 each) with a shovel in September 1975. I sampled plants and animals using a square box quadrat macrobenthic sampler (947 cm2 bottom area � approximately 36.5 liter volume including the top 3 cm of sediment) having 0.8 mm mesh netting. Most of the sediment was removed through the mesh sides of the sampler in the field; after transfer to buckets, samples were brought back to the lab, washed again on a 0.8 mm mesh sieve to remove residual sediment, and frozen in plastic bags. All samples were taken in the day time within +/- 3 hours of low tide; water depth was 5 to 60 cm while sampling. Samples from denuded plots were taken in the center of each plot. Fauna were separated from shell material and plant material in a white tray. Animals were identified to species except for some polychaete families.