Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An ecophysiological study of some meiofauna species inhabiting a sandy beach at Bermuda

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The dominant nematode and harpacticoid species inhabiting a sheltered beach at Bermuda were characterized by their vertical distribution in the sediment, by their tolerance of high temperature under oxic and anoxic conditions, and by their tolerance of extreme pH-values. In 4 species of nematodes the respiratory rate proved to be inversely proportional to the depth at which the species occurs, and directly proportional to the size of the buccal cavity. One species, the nematode Paramonhystera n.sp., is more temperature resistant at zero or near zero pO2 than at atmospheric oxygen pressure; it is the first marine metazoan in which it can be shown that a specific biological process is favourably affected by anoxic conditions if compared with the situation at normal pO2.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Alderdice, D.F.: Factor combinations: responses of marine poikilotherms to environmental factors acting in concert. In: Marine ecology. Vol. 1. Environmental factors, Pt 3. pp 1659–1722. Ed. by O. Kinne. London: Wiley Interscience 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, H.J.: The respiratory physiology of the marine nematodes Enoplus brevis (Bastian) and E. communis (Bastian). I. The influence of oxygen tension and size. J. exp. Biol. 59, 255–266 (1973a)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The respiratory physiology of the marine nematodes Enoplus brevis (Bastian) and E. communis (Bastian). II. The effects of changes in the imposed oxygen regime. J. exp. Biol. 59, 267–274 (1973b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ax, P.: Populationsdynamik, Lebenszyklen und Fortpflanzungsbiologie der Mikrofauna des Meeressandes. Verh. dt. zool. Ges. 1968, 66–113 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baas-Becking, L.G., I.R. Kaplan and D. Moore: Limits of the natural environment in terms of pH and oxidation-reduction potentials. J. Geol. 68, 243–284 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Boaden, P.J.S.: Behaviour and distribution of the archiannelid Trilobodrilus heideri. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 43, 239–250 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and H.M. Platt: Daily migration patterns in an intertidal meiobenthic community. Thalassia jugosl. 7, 1–12 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandt, Th.v.: Parasitenphysiologie, 353 pp. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruce, J.R.: Physical factors on the sandy beach. Part II. Chemical changes, carbon dioxide concentration and sulphides. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 15, 553–565 (1928)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, A.F. and S.D. Van Gundy: Metabolism of glycogen and neutral lipids by Aphelenchus avenae and Caenorhabditis sp. in aerobic, microaerobic and anaerobic environments. J. Nematol. 2, 305–315 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Coull, B. and W.B. Vernberg: Harpacticoid copepod respiration: Enhydrosoma propinquum and Longipedia helgolandica. Mar. Biol. 5, 341–344 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • DeZio and P. Grimaldi: Ecological aspects of Tardigrada distribution in South Adriatic beaches. Veröff. Inst. Meeresforsch. Bremerh. (Sonderband) 2, 87–94 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellenby, C. and L. Smith: Haemoglobin in Mermis subnigrescens (Cobb), Enoplus brevis (Bastian) and E. communis (Bastian). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 19, 871–877 (1966)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fairbairn, D.: Biochemical adaptation and loss of genetic capacity in helminth parasites. Biol. Rev. 45, 29–72 (1970)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fenchel, T.M.: The ecology of marine microbenthos. IV. Structure and function of the benthic ecosystem, its chemical and physical factors and the microfauna communities with special references to the ciliated protozoa. Ophelia 6, 1–182 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The reduction-oxidation properties of marine sediments and the vertical distribution of the microfauna. Vie Milieu 22, 509–521 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and R.J. Riedl: The sulfide system: a new biotic community underneath the oxidized layer of marine sand bottoms. Mar. Biol. 7, 255–268 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, H.M. and A.E.R. Taylor: Tolerance of oxygen by aquatic invertebrates. Proc. R. Soc. (Ser. B) 143, 214–225 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraenkel, G.: Resistance to high temperatures in a Mediterranean snail, Littorina neritoides. Ecology 42, 604–606 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Giere, O.: Oxygen in the marine hygropsammal and the vertical microdistribution of oligochaetes. Mar. Biol. 21, 180–189 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J.S.: The behaviour of Protodrilus symbioticus (Giard) in temperature gradients. J. Anim. Ecol. 34, 455–461 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: An experimental approach to the ecology of the harpacticid Leptastacus constrictus Lang. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 2, 278–292 (1968)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, W.J.: Life's color code, 238 pp. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopper, B.E., J.W. Fell and R.F. Cefalu: Effect of temperature on life cycles of nematodes associated with the mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) detrital system. Mar. Biol. 23, 293–296 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, B.-O.: Salinity resistance and salinity preference of two oligochaetes Aktedrilus monospermaticus Knöllner and Marionina preclitellochaeta n.sp. from the interstitial fauna of marine sandy beaches. Oikos 13, 293–305 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Diurnal and annual variation of temperature and salinity of interstitial water in sandy beaches. Ophelia 4, 173–201 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Quantitative and experimental studies of the interstitial fauna in four Swedish sandy beaches. Ophelia 5, 1–71 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Factors and fauna of a Baltic mud bottom. Limnoligica 7, 47–52 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, G.Y.: Pigments of Annelida, Echiuroidea, Sipunculoidea, Priapuloidea and Phoronidea. In: Chemical zoology, Vol. 4. pp 311–376. Ed. by M. Florkin and B.T. Scheer. New York: Academic Press 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinne, O.: A programatic study of comparative biology of marine and brackish water animals. Année biol. 33, 87–92 (1957)

    Google Scholar 

  • —: Temperature: animals — invertebrates. In: Marine ecology. Vol. 1. Environmental factors, Pt 1. pp 407–514. Ed. by O. Kinne. London: Wiley Interscience 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasker, R., J.B.J. Wells and A.D. McIntyre: Growth, reproduction, respiration and carbon utilization of the sand-dwelling harpacticoid copepod, Asellopsis intermedia. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 50, 147–160 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasserre, P.: Relations énergétiques entre le métabolisme respiratoire et la régulation ionique chez une annélide oligochéte euryhaline, Marionina acheta (Hagen). C.r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 268, 1541–1544 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • — et J. Renaud-Mornant: Interprétation écophysiologique des effects de temérature et de salinité sur l'intensité respiratoire de Derocheilocaris remanei biscayensis Delamare 1953 (Crustacea, Mystacocaridea). C. r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 272, 1159–1162 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • —— et J. Renaud-Mornant: Resistance and respiratory physiology of intertidal meiofauna to oxygen-deficiency. Neth. J. Sea Res. 7, 290–302 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIntyre, A.D.: Ecology of marine meiobenthos. Biol. Rev. 44, 245–290 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, L.R. and R. Singh: Cytochrome oxidasesuccinic dehydrogenase activities and the melanin pigment cycle in poikilothermic vertebrates. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 28, 83–94 (1969)

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ott, J.: Determination of fauna boundaries of nematodes in an intertidal flat. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 57, 645–663 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and F. Schiemer: Respiration and anaerobiosis of free living nematodes from marine and limnic sediments. Neth. J. Sea Res. 7, 233–243 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pamatmat, M.: Ecology and metabolism of a benthic community in an intertidal sandflat. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 53, 211–298 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedl, R.J.: Gnathostomulida from America, first record of the new phylum from North America. Science, N.Y. 163, 445–452 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and J.A. Ott: A suction corer to yield electric potentials in coastal sediment layers. Senckenbergiana marit. 2, 67–84 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieger, R. und J. Ott: Gezeitenbedingte Wanderungen von Turbellarien und Nematoden eines Nordadriatischen Sandstrandes. Vie Milieu 22, (Suppl.), 425–447 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saz, H.J.: Facultative anaerobiosis in the invertebrates: pathways and control systems. Am Zool. 11, 125–135 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiemer, F.: Respiration rates of two species of gnathostomulids. Oecologia (Berl.) 13, 403–406 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and A. Duncan: Oxygen consumption of a fresh water benthic nematode, Tobrilus gracilis Bastian. Oecologia (Berl.) 15, 121–126 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Teal, J. and W. Wieser: The distribution and ecology of nematodes in a Georgia salt marsh. Limnol. Oceanogr. 11, 217–222 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Theede, H. und A. Ponat: Die Wirkung der Sauerstoffspannung auf die Druckresistenz einiger mariner Wirbelloser. Mar. Biol. 6, 66–73 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Torres, J.J. and C.P. Mangum: Effects of hyperoxia on survival of benthic marine invertebrates. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 47A, 17–22 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernberg, F.J.: Dissolved gases: animals. In: Marine ecology. Vol. 1. Environmental factors, Pt 3. pp 1491–1515. Ed. by O. Kinne. London: Wiley Interscience 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Westheide, W.: Räumliche und zeitliche Differenzierung im Verteilungsmuster der marinen Interstitialfauna. Verh. dt. zool. Ges. 65, 23–32 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickstrom, C.E. and R.W. Castenholz: Thermophilic ostracod: aquatic metazoan with the highest known temperature tolerance. Science, N.Y. 181, 1063–1064 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wieser, W.: Biotopstruktur und Besiedlungsstruktur. Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters. 10, 359–376 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • — and J. Kanwisher: Respiration and anaerobic survival in some sea weed-inhabiting invertebrates. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 117, 594–600 (1959)

    Google Scholar 

  • —— and J. Kanwisher: Ecological and physiological studies on marine nematodes from a small salt marsh near Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Limnol. Oceanogr. 6, 262–270 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zoophysiologie der Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    W. Wieser, J. Ott, F. Schiemer & E. Gnaiger

  2. Lehrkanzel für Meeresbiologie und Limnologie der Universität Wien, Wien, Austria

    W. Wieser, J. Ott, F. Schiemer & E. Gnaiger

Authors
  1. W. Wieser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Ott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Schiemer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. Gnaiger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by O. Kinne, Hamburg

Contribution No. 593, the Bermuda Biological Station

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wieser, W., Ott, J., Schiemer, F. et al. An ecophysiological study of some meiofauna species inhabiting a sandy beach at Bermuda. Mar. Biol. 26, 235–248 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00389254

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00389254

Keywords

Search

Navigation