Population dynamics of oligochaetes and small polychaetes in the polluted Forth estuary ecosystem
Bagheri, E.A.; McLusky, D.S. (1982). Population dynamics of oligochaetes and small polychaetes in the polluted Forth estuary ecosystem. Neth. J. Sea Res. 16: 55-66
In: Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Groningen; Den Burg. ISSN 0077-7579; e-ISSN 1873-1406, more
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Authors | | Top |
- Bagheri, E.A.
- McLusky, D.S.
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Abstract |
The seasonal distribution and abundance of oligochaetes and small polychaetes within the Forth estuary are described with reference to their role in energy flow through the estuarine mudflat ecosystem. The 4 most abundant species were the oligochaetes Tubificoides belledeni, Amphichaeta sannio and Paranais litoralis and the polychaete Manayunkia aestuarina. Tubificoides benedeni showed little seasonality in breeding and recruitment. The naidids, which mainly breed asexually, showed marked seasonality which may be correlated with seasonal changes in abundance of phytoplankton food. Manayunkia aestuarina is predominantly an annual species with recruitment between May and August. Production dry weights were estimated for the 3 oligochaetes from the P:B ratio of 3: 1; it was 10.23 g. m-2 .a-1 for Tubificoides, 0.31 for Amphichaeta and 1.01 for Paranais. For Manayunkia dry weight production was calculated by summation of monthly growth increments; it was 3.67 g. m-2. a-1, equivalent to a P:B ratio of 2.34. |
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