Benthic fauna affects recruitment from sediments of the harmful cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena

► Benthic fauna affect recruitment success of Nodularia spumigena in the Baltic Sea. ► Species-specific traits of fauna explain differences in cyanobacterial recruitment. ► Sediments without fauna can facilitate cyanobacterial recruitment. ► Future studies on cyanobacterial bloom initiation should consider the benthic link.