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Interactions in soft bottom benthic communities: Quantitative aspects of behaviour in the surface deposit feedersPygospio elegans (Polychaeta) andMacoma balthica (Bivalvia)

Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen volume 45, pages 301–316 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

The surface deposit feeding speciesPygospio elegans andMacoma balthica are dominant members of many sandy bottom communities of northern boreal regions. The feeding mode of both species and the tube-building ofP. elegans are assumed to affect community structure by interactions with other species. The weight of tubes ofP. elegans varied between 2 and 13 g DW/100 cm2 at the two stations investigated and during the year, which is equivalent to 230–1500 cm of tubes per 100 cm2 of sediment surface. Sediment stability may be affected directly or indirectly by the amount of tubes present.M. balthica shows a linear relation between the maximum size of particles which can be inhaled and animal length. In Kiel Bay, particles>0.5 mm are out of the range of this species. In summer, the potential feeding area (PFA) of aP. elegans population at one station in Kiel Bay was 1.8 times the available surface area. The PFA of three different populations ofM. balthica in Kiel Bay exceeded the available surface area by factors of 2.6, 2.7, and 3.2. These findings indicate strong intra- and interspecific competition for food. Additionally, the feeding of both species may strongly affect the recruitment of benthic species via pelagic larvae. Experiments are proposed to evaluate the significance of the investigated behavioural aspects for community structure.

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  1. Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar-und Meeresforschung; Columbusstraße, D-W-2850, Bremerhaven, Federal Republic of Germany

    Thomas Brey

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AWI Publication No. 393

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Brey, T. Interactions in soft bottom benthic communities: Quantitative aspects of behaviour in the surface deposit feedersPygospio elegans (Polychaeta) andMacoma balthica (Bivalvia). Helgolander Meeresunters 45, 301–316 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02365522

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Helgoland Marine Research

ISSN: 1438-3888

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