An Ecophysiological Approach to the Microdistribution of Meiobenthic Oligochaeta: 1. Phallodrilus Monospermathecus (Knöllner) (Tubificidae) from a Subtropical Beach at Bermuda
Giere O. 1977. An Ecophysiological Approach to the Microdistribution of Meiobenthic Oligochaeta: 1. Phallodrilus Monospermathecus (Knöllner) (Tubificidae) from a Subtropical Beach at Bermuda. Pages 285 - 296. In Keegan BF, Ceidigh PO, Boaden PS (ed): Biology of Benthic Organisms: 11th European Symposium on Marine Biology. October, 1976. Pergamon Press
Phallodrilus monospermathecus from a Bermuda beach showed a distinctly inhomogenous distribution due to dense aggregations of worms in the subsurface layers of the high-water line, whereas the lenitic eulittoral sand flats were only scarcely populated. The abiotic factor system in the various sample sites and layers was analyzed using mainly electrometrical in-situ methods. In order to find out the ecophysiological background of this distributional pattern, the tolerance of the worms to temperature, salinity, alkalinity, oxygen supply, and combinations of these parameters, was studied. Results show that Ph. monosrermathecus is extremely tolerant to each factor per se, even if it exceeds the naturally occurring range. However, rigorous parameter combinations often acted as multiple stressors and reduced survival time of the animals markedly. Judging from these experiments, the microdistribution in the field can be explained by restriction to layers with moderate temperatures and relatively stable salinity, by preference for well oxygenated sand and avoidance of unusually high alkalinity. These studies represent the first part of an investigation comparing ecological conditions for meiobenthic oligochaetes in different climates.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Giere, Olav
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- Characteristics, environment conditions, Habitat, Marine worm, Temperature, Water Quality