Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vertical swimming in wave-induced currents as a control mechanism of intertidal migration by a sand-beach isopod

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Both the vertical and horizontal distributions ofEurydice pulchra (Leach) within the water column of the surf zone were recorded throughout complete tidal cycles on a sandy beach in North Wales during the summer of 1989. Upon emerging from the sand, the isopods tended to swim up in the water column, where transport onshore would be facilitated by the wave-induced, onshore currents which laboratory wave-tank experiments have confirmed to occur near the water surface. This combination of active and passive transport to the water's edge results in high numbers of individuals in the narrow swash zone. At and just after the time of high tide, individuals swim to the water/sediment interface where, as again confirmed by wave-tank experiments, the predominant water movement is offshore. Continued swimming near the bottom during the ebb tide before reburrowing in the sand ensures transport downshore and avoidance of stranding above the characteristic level of zonation on the shore. Vertical migrations ofE. pulchra in the water column permit differential exploitation of up and downshore currents to achieve horizontal migration.

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

  • Al-Adhub, A. H. Y., Naylor, E. (1975). Emergence rhythms and tidal migrations in the brown shrimpCrangon crangon (L.). J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 55: 801–810

    Google Scholar 

  • Alheit, J., Naylor, E. (1976). Behavioural basis of intertidal zonation inEurydice pulchra (Leach). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 23: 135–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronin, T. W., Forward, R. B., Jr. (1982). Tidally timed behaviour: effects on larval distributions in estuaries. In: Kennedy, V. S. (ed.) Estuarine comparisons. Academic Press, New York, p. 505–520 (ISBN 0124040705)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyhr-Nielson, M., Sorensen, T. (1970). Some sand transport phenomena on coasts with bars. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth Coastal Engineering Conference, Washington D.C. Vol. II. American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, p. 855–866

    Google Scholar 

  • Enright, J. T. (1963). The tidal rhythm of activity of a sand-beach amphipod. Z. vergl. Physiol. 46: 276–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enright, J. T. (1972). A virtuoso isopod: circa-lunar rhythms and their tidal fine structure. J. comp. Physiol. 77: 141–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forward, R. B., Jr. (1980). Phototaxis of a sand-beach amphipod: physiology and tidal rhythms. J. comp. Physiol. 135: 243–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fincham, A. A. (1972). Rhythmic swimming and rheotropism in the amphipodMarinogammarus marinus (Leach). J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 8: 19–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fish, J. D., Fish, S. (1972). The swimming rhythm ofEurydice pulchra (Leach) and a possible explanation of intertidal migration. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 8: 195–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, M. H. (1980). Aspects of the ecology of sandy-shore crustacea. Ph. D. thesis. University of Liverpool, Port Erin

    Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, M. H., Naylor, E. (1980). Ontogeny of an endogenous rhythm inEurydice pulchra. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 46: 137–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holdich, D. M. (1981). Opportunistic feeding behaviour in a predatory isopod. Crustaceana 41: 101–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Hough, A. R., Naylor, E. (1991). The behavioural basis of crustacean distribution in a tidally mixed estuary. Mem. Qd Mus. (in press)

  • Jones, D. A., Hobbins, C. St. C. (1985). The role of biological rhythms in some sand beach cirolanid isopoda. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 93: 47–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. A., Naylor, E. (1970). The swimming rhythm of the sand beach isopodEurydice pulchra. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 4: 188–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komar, P. D. (1976). Beach processes and sedimentation. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (ISBN 0130725951)

    Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan, A., Wooldridge, T., Van der Horst, G. (1979). Tidal movements of the macrofauna on an exposed sandy beach in South Africa. J. Zool., Lond. 188: 433–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, E. (1985). Tidally rhythmic behaviour of marine animals. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol. 39: 63–93

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, E. (1988). Clock-controlled behaviour in intertidal animals. In: Chelazzi, G., Vannini, M. (eds.) Behavioural adaptations to intertidal life (NATO ASI Series). Plenum Press, New York & London (ISBN 0306429306)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean Sciences, Marine Science Laboratories, University College of North Wales, Menai Bridge, LL59 5EY, Gwynedd, North Wales, Great Britain

    C. G. Warman, T. J. O'Hare & E. Naylor

Authors
  1. C. G. Warman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. J. O'Hare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Naylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Communicated by J. Mauchline, Oban

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Warman, C.G., O'Hare, T.J. & Naylor, E. Vertical swimming in wave-induced currents as a control mechanism of intertidal migration by a sand-beach isopod. Mar. Biol. 111, 49–54 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01986345

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01986345

Keywords

Search

Navigation