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Seasonality and Structure of a Macrobenthic Seagrass Community on the Florida Gulf Coast
Author(s) -
Bloom Stephen A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
internationale revue der gesamten hydrobiologie und hydrographie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 0020-9309
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.19830680407
Subject(s) - seagrass , detritus , intertidal zone , abiotic component , ecology , biology , population , annual cycle , habitat , seasonality , reproduction , oceanography , environmental science , geology , demography , sociology
Macrofauna at two intertidal sites, quantitatively sampled monthly for 25 months, exhibited distinct reoccurring population fluctuations which were poorly correlated with abiotic parameters. Faunal dominants, Laeonereis culveri and Onuphis simoni , showed reciprocal fluctuations. Laeonereis exhibited non‐synchronized reproduction and recruitment while Onuphis exhibited synchronized release. Laeonereis peaked before Onuphis while Oniphis fluctuated with the majority of other species. The faunal dominants exhibited one cycle in autumn at both sites but also exhibited a cycle at only one site in spring. Temperature is thus not indicated as causal and detrital input was suggested as the overriding factor. A hypothesis was advanced that Laeonereis is an opportunistic species exploiting fresh detritus, while Onuphis is a detritus feeder utilizing bacterial populations.