Use of benthic vs planktonic organic matter by sandy-beach organisms: A food tracing experiment with 13C labelled diatoms

► Role of benthic and planktonic food sources in sandy beach food webs was evaluated. ► Uptake of both food sources were found in most of the sandy-beach species. ► Benthic diatoms were preferentially consumed by meio- and some macrofaunal species. ► Sandy-beach meiofauna and macrofauna share the same benthic food source.