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BENTHIC INFAUNAL ASSEMBLAGES ASSOCIATED WITH TURTLEGRASS (THALASSIA TESTUDINUM KONIG) IN BISCAYNE BAY, FLORIDA

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Date Issued:
1977
Summary:
The invertebrate infauna of four Thalassia testudinum beds and adjacent open sand areas in northern Biscayne Bay, Florida, were sampled in July and December 1976. A total of 109 species, including 5804 individuals, were collected. Thalassia beds were found to harbor a denser and more diverse fauna than open sand sites. This may be attributed to increased food availability in the form of detrital Thalassia and concealment from predators provided by the plant blades. The most abundant species in the Thalassia beds included the polychaete Cirriformia filigera, the amphipod Lembos smithii, and the isopod Janira minuta. The most abundant species in the open sand areas were the polychaetes Exogone dispar and Hesionura elongata, and the isopod Xenanthura brevitelson. High within -site (grass or sand) faunal similarity values and low between-site similarity values indicate the presence of distinct communities associated with Thalassia and adjacent open sand areas.
Title: BENTHIC INFAUNAL ASSEMBLAGES ASSOCIATED WITH TURTLEGRASS (THALASSIA TESTUDINUM KONIG) IN BISCAYNE BAY, FLORIDA.
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Name(s): EICHLER, LAWRENCE WALTER.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1977
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 77 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: The invertebrate infauna of four Thalassia testudinum beds and adjacent open sand areas in northern Biscayne Bay, Florida, were sampled in July and December 1976. A total of 109 species, including 5804 individuals, were collected. Thalassia beds were found to harbor a denser and more diverse fauna than open sand sites. This may be attributed to increased food availability in the form of detrital Thalassia and concealment from predators provided by the plant blades. The most abundant species in the Thalassia beds included the polychaete Cirriformia filigera, the amphipod Lembos smithii, and the isopod Janira minuta. The most abundant species in the open sand areas were the polychaetes Exogone dispar and Hesionura elongata, and the isopod Xenanthura brevitelson. High within -site (grass or sand) faunal similarity values and low between-site similarity values indicate the presence of distinct communities associated with Thalassia and adjacent open sand areas.
Identifier: 13884 (digitool), FADT13884 (IID), fau:12666 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1977.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Subject(s): Thalassia
Benthos--Florida--Biscayne Bay
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13884
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.