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Seasonal variation in assemblages of mobile epifauna inhabiting three subtidal brown seaweeds in northeastern New Zealand

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Abstract

Seasonal variation in densities of mobile epifauna associated with three species of subtidal brown seaweeds (Phaeophyta) was investigated over 2–3 years in northeastern New Zealand. There was strong seasonal variation in the total number of individuals per plant wet weight for epifauna inhabiting two fucalean seaweeds of the genus Carpophyllum, with epifaunal densities roughly tracking solar irradiance. In contrast, epifaunal densities on the laminarian Ecklonia radiata peaked during autumn/winter in the first two years of sampling, and during spring in the third, showing no predictable seasonal pattern of abundance. Few individual epifaunal taxa showed clear seasonal abundance patterns, even on the Carpophyllum spp. The composition of the epifaunal assemblage on each seaweed species was fairly constant over time.

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  1. Leigh Marine Laboratory and School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, P.O. Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand

    Richard B. Taylor

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Taylor, R.B. Seasonal variation in assemblages of mobile epifauna inhabiting three subtidal brown seaweeds in northeastern New Zealand. Hydrobiologia 361, 25–35 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003182523274

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