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The epifauna of megaripples: species' adaptations and population responses to disturbance
Author(s) -
SHEPHERD S. A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
australian journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 0307-692X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9993.1983.tb01513.x
Subject(s) - disturbance (geology) , ecology , biology , population , habitat , sediment , bedform , sediment transport , paleontology , demography , sociology
Strong tidal currents flowing over mobile sediment give rise to migrating bedforms termed megaripples and sandwaves. For colonizing epifauna a megaripple field is a habitat subject to repeated disturbance as advancing megaripples bury all epifauna in their path. Eight epifaunal species occur in a megaripple field in tipper Spencer Gulf, South Australia. The stalked bryozoan Lanceopora obliqua is an r‐strategist and occurs patchily in high densities. An ascidian Polycarpa pedunculata , probably a K‐strategist, and a group of four species of articulated bryozoans, have much lower population densities which are predictable according to the frequency of disturbance. Other species occur in low, but variable densities. Some species show adaptations in morphology, behaviour or life history patterns which favour survival in this unusual environment.