Hydrobiologia

, Volume 118, Issue 1, pp 21–28 | Cite as

Problems in meiofauna energy-flow studies

  • Peter M. J. Herman
  • Guido Vranken
  • Carlo Heip
Article
First Online:

Abstract

The direct estimation of energy flow through marine meiobenthic populations poses several difficulties, mainly relating to sampling problems. The usefulness of some indirect estimation methods is discussed.

Direct production estimates and respiration measurements for three brackish water crustacean populations are given, indicating a relative constant proportion between population production and respiration. The production: assimilation ratio for these populations fluctuates between 0.3 and 0.4. This is contrasted to literature data revealing much higher production: assimilation ratios as determined in the laboratory for nematode populations. Using data on laboratory cultures of the nematode Monhystera disjuncta some factors that can possibly generate this discrepancy are discussed. An analysis of P:B in different life stages of this population justifies the use of a life-cycle turnover of about 3 for meiobenthic populations, provided some conditions are met. Among these is that no drastic change in productivity occurs between juveniles and adults, and that the biomass of hatchlings, not of freshly laid eggs, is considered as generative production.

Keywords

meiofauna marine meiobenthos energy-flow production respiration biomass 
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Copyright information

© Dr W. Junk Publishers 1984

Authors and Affiliations

  • Peter M. J. Herman
    • 1
  • Guido Vranken
    • 1
  • Carlo Heip
    • 1
  1. 1.Marine Biology SectionInstituut voor DierkundeGentBelgium

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