Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of detrital nutritional quality on population dynamics of a marine nematode (Diplolaimella chitwoodi)

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The quantity and nutritional quality of detritus significantly affected the population growth rate (r) and carrying capacity (K) of Diplolaimella chitwoodi (Nematoda) in laboratory cultures. The rate of increase (r) was roughly constant for cultures fed Ulva fasciata, Pablum, Gracilaria foliifera and one Spartina alterniflora detritus, but was lower for Thalassia testudinum detritus and another S. alterniflora detritus. Rate of increase was unaffected by amount of food supplied except for seaweed detritus where r was lower for lower ratios. Carrying capacity (K) was strongly affected by both detrital type and rate of food supply. The best predictor of K was the rate of nitrogen supply to these cultures implying that natural populations may be N-limited. The nitrogen content of detritus appears to be the best measure of its nutritional quality.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Alongi, D. M. and J. H. Tietjen: Population growth and trophic interactions among free-living marine nematodes. In: Marine benthic dynamics. pp 151–166. Ed. by K. R. Tenore and B. C. Coull. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Coull, B. C. and S. S. Bell: Perspectives of marine meiofaunal ecology. in: Ecological processes in coastal and marine systems, pp 189–216. Ed. by R. J. Livingston. New York: Plenum Press 1979

    Google Scholar 

  • Findlay, S. E. G.: Small-scale spatial distribution of meiofauna on a mud- and sand flat. Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci. 12, 471–484

  • Gerlach, S. A.: Food-chain relationships in subtidal silty sand marine sediments and the role of meiofauna in stimulating bacterial productivity. Oecologia 33, 55–69 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagin, F. G.: A first course in differential equations, 342 pp. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1975

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. J., J. H. Tietjen, C. Mastropaolo and H. Rubin: Food quality and heterogeneous spatial distribution of meiofauna. Helgol. wiss. Meeresunters. 30, 272–282 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, R. V. and B. C. Coull: Feeding groups and size analysis of marine meiobenthic nematodes from South Carolina, U.S.A. Vie Milieu 27, 1–12 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, K. H.: Macrophyte production and detritus food chains in coastal waters. Mem. Ist. Ital. Hydrobiol. 29 (Suppl.), 353–382 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholas, W. L. and A. C. Stewart: The calorific value of Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditidae). Nematologica 24, 45–50 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenore, K. R.: Utilization of aged detritus derived from different sources by the polychaete, Capitella capitata. Mar. Biol. 44, 51–55 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenore, K. R.: The effect of organic nitrogen and caloric content on detrital utilization by the deposit-feeding polychaete, Capitella capitata. Estuar. coast. Shelf Sci. 12, 39–47 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenore, K. R. and R. B. Hanson: Availability of detritus of different types and ages to a polychaete macroconsumer, Capitella capitata. Limnol. Oceanogr. 25, 553–558 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenore, K. R. and D. L. Rice: A review of trophic factors affecting secondary production of deposit feeders. In: Marine benthic dynamics, pp 325–340. Ed. by K. R. Tenore and B. C. Coull. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Tietjen, J. H.: The ecology of shallow water meiofauna in two New England estuaries. Oecologia 2, 251–291 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, G. M. and K. W. Cummins: Effects of food quality on growth of a stream detritivore, Paratendipes albimanus (Meigen) (Diptera: Chironomidae). Ecology 60, 57–64 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Warwick, R. M. and R. Price: Ecological and metabolic studies on free-living nematodes from an estuarine mud-flat. Estuar. coast. mar. Sci. 9, 257–271 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wieser, W.: Die Beziehung zwischen Mundhöhlengestalt, Ernährungsweise und Verkommen bei freilebenden marinen Nematoden. Eine ökologisch-morphologische Studie. Ark. Zool. ser. II 4(26), 439–484 (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeitzschel, B.: Sediment-water interactions in nutrient dynamics. In: Marine benthic dynamics pp 195–218. Ed. by K. R. Tenore and B. C. Coull. Columbia: University of South Carolina (1979)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. S. E. G. Findlay

    Present address: Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, Georgia, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 13687, 31406, Savannah, Georgia, USA

    S. E. G. Findlay

Authors
  1. S. E. G. Findlay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by S. K. Pierce, College Park

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Findlay, S.E.G. Effect of detrital nutritional quality on population dynamics of a marine nematode (Diplolaimella chitwoodi). Mar. Biol. 68, 223–227 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397610

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00397610

Keywords

Search

Navigation