The response of meiofauna to sediment disturbance

doi:10.1016/0022-0981(80)90091-X

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

Volume 46, Issue 1, 1980, Pages 59-71

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(80)90091-X Get rights and content

Abstract

The meiobenthos inhabiting an intertidal mud bar were disturbed by hand-turning the sediment of a 9-m² area with a shovel and monitoring the subsequent recolonization process.

The immediate impact of the disturbance on this community dominated by Nematoda (91%), Copepoda (4%) and Foraminifera (4%), was to remove more than 70% of the meiofauna. However, after only one tidal cycle, total numbers of nematodes, copepods, foraminiferans and other meiofauna taxa were at predisturbance and control (similar 9-m² site on the same flat) density values. Nematode species assemblages rapidly adapted to the disturbance and changed little over time. Foraminifera showed insignificant fluidized flocculent upper layer of sediment was probably the major dispersal mechanism in this community, and foraminiferans seem to be the least able to use this mechanism.

The meiobenthos of this habitat is described as a well-dispersed and dynamic community able to rapidly adjust to small-scale disturbances. However, the meiobenthos may not recover from all disturbances, because resilience was only determined for a limited physical disturbance.

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^☆: Contribution No. 329 from the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research, University of South Carolina.

²: Present address: Department of Oceanography, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, U.S.A.

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The response of meiofauna to sediment disturbance☆

Abstract

Deep-Sea Res.

Mar. Poll. Bull.

Palacogcogr. Palacoclimat. Palacoccol.

Estuar. Res.

Effects of an oil spill remover on beach meiofauna

Ann. Inst. Oceanogr. Paris

Colonization of graded sand by interstitial fauna

Cah. Biol. mar.

Daily migration patterns in an intertidal meiobenthic community

Thalassia jugosl.

Measurement of the physical and chemical environment

Recovery of streams from spills of hazardous materials

Effect of pentachlorophenol (PCP) on meiobenthic communities established in an experimental system

Mar. Biol.

Resistance of the microbial community within salt marsh soils to selected perturbations

Ecology

Mechanisms of succession in natural communities and their role in community stability and organization

Am. Nat.

Sand grain angularity as a factor affecting colonization by marine meiofauna

Vie Milieu

Hydrographic control of meiobenthos in Bermuda

Limnol. Oceanogr.

Meiobenthos of the mudbanks of Kerala Coast

Repopulation of the polychaete fauna of an intertidal habitat following natural defaunation: species equilibrium

Oecologia

Diurnal vertical migrations of meiofauna in an estuarine sand flat

Zool. afr.

Recolonization of intertidal algae: an experimental study

Mar. Biol.

Some factors affecting the colonization of a dredged channel

Mar. Biol.