Role of a natural disturbance in an assemblage of marine free-living nematodes

Abstract

One of the predictions of theoretical treatments of soft-bottom benthos is: if disturbance were responsible for the persistence of a species in a community, that species should become disproportionately abundant in recently disturbed patches. This prediction was investigated using marine free-living nematode species in subtidal (2-3 m depth) sediments off the Florida [USA] panhandle (29.degree.54.55'N, 84.degree.31.45'W), frequently disturbed by stingrays (Dasyatis sabina). In disturbed sediments nematode densities gradually increased over 4 days until they exceeded abundances in background sediments 96 h after the initial disturbance. None of the species examined responded to disturbance in the manner expected. Small-scale natural disturbances are not important in the maintenance of nematode species in this community.