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Tube‐dwelling Meiofauna in Marine Sediments
Author(s) -
Nehring Stefan
Publication year - 1993
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.19930780411
Subject(s) - meiobenthos , copepod , biology , ecology , tube (container) , microbial loop , habitat , crustacean , ecosystem , food web , fauna , engineering , mechanical engineering
Tube‐dwelling has been recognized previously as a life‐style for several meiobenthic species, but behavioural observation of living specimens has rarely been reported. The extent to which tube‐building and tube‐dwelling occurs within meiofauna, and how they have influenced evolutionary and ecological processes as well as morphology within these organisms, is relatively unknown but potentially of great significance. In addition to direct observation of tube‐building and the occurence of tubes in natural habitats, the internal anatomy associated with tube‐building in two nematode species (Ptycholaimellus jacobi, P. ponticus) and one harpacticoid copepod species (Stenhelia palustris) is the focus of this study. Special attention is given to the secretory products, glands, and their association with secretory pores. Also, the role of meiobenthic tube‐dwelling activities in relationship to their environment is extensive discussed.