Dynamics of the Polychaetes Desdemona ornata and Perinereis cultrifera and Their Resources of Food in a Mediterranean Mudflat |
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| Authors: | Francesca Rossi |
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| Institution: | Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Uomo e dell'Ambiente, Via Volta 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. Availability of food in the sediment can play an important role in determining the dynamics of deposit feeders. Generally the abundance of deposit feeders during winter and spring is related to an increase in the nutritive value of the sediment due to the concurrent microalgal peaks. This work investigated, in 1998, the seasonal variability patterns in the nutritive value of the sediment and in the abundance of two polychaetes, Desdemona ornata (Sabellidae: Fabriicinae) and Perinereis cultrifera (Nereididae), that probably feed on benthic microalgae. Previously, in 1997, these two species were abundant in winter and spring. During that winter, the amount of chlorophyll a in the sediment was quite variable due to grazing activities. Three manipulative field experiments were carried out in winter and spring (January, March and April 1998) to test the hypothesis that increasing the amount of chlorophyll a increases the nutritional value of the sediment and the abundance of Perinereis cultrifera and Desdemona ornata . The results indicated that the patterns of variability for these species and for chlorophyll a were similar to those observed in 1997. In plots where microalgal growth was stimulated experimentally, Perinereis cultrifera increased in January and Desdemona ornata increased in January and March. The role of food in regulating the abundances of Perinereis cultrifera and Desdemona ornata is discussed. |
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| Keywords: | Macrofauna Perinereis cultrifera Desdemona ornata microalgae chlorophyll a multiscale analyses mudflat Mediterranean |
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