laboratory experiments were conducted to test for active meiofaunal emergence from intertidal sediment in the absence of currents. Copepoda, Ostracoda, Plathelminthes and Polychaeta actively left submerged glass jars containing indisturbed sandy sediment.During a single nocturnal high tide, 87% of Copepoda, 67% of Ostracoda and 42% of Plathelminthes may leave the sediment. Emigration rate are significatly smaller during diurnal high tides. Copepoda were randomly distributed in the water column 10 to 50 cm above the bottom and Plathelminthes between 10 and 40 cm. there are specific differences in the emigration rates of plathelminth taxa. Diatom-feeders, copepodfeeders and unspecific predators emerged in significally higher proporitons than did nematodefeeders and bacteria-feeders. Result suggest hig mobility and high transport rates of intertidal maiofauna above the sediment.
CITATION STYLE
Armonies, W. (1988). Active emergence of meiofauna from intertidal sediment. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 43, 151–159. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps043151
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