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Is nematode colonisation in the presence of Scolelepis in tropical sandy-beach sediment similar to the colonisation process in temperate sandy beaches?
Maria, T.F.; Esteves, A.M.; Vanaverbeke, J.; Vanreusel, A. (2013). Is nematode colonisation in the presence of Scolelepis in tropical sandy-beach sediment similar to the colonisation process in temperate sandy beaches? Brazilian Journal of Biology (Impresso) 73(1): 19-28. https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1519-69842013000100004
In: Brazilian Journal of Biology (Impresso). ISSN 1519-6984; e-ISSN 1678-4375
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 303258 [ download pdf ]

Keywords
    Scolelepis squamata (Müller, 1806) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    meiofauna; Scolelepis squamata; Fazenda Beach; microcosm experiment;biological interactions

Authors  Top 
  • Maria, T.F.
  • Esteves, A.M.
  • Vanaverbeke, J.
  • Vanreusel, A.

Abstract
    The role of a dominant macrobenthic polychaete, Scolelepis squamata, in the colonisation of defaunated tropical sediments by sandy-beach nematodes was investigated and compared with a previous colonisation experiment carried out on a temperate sandy beach. Experimental cylinders, equipped with lateral windows allowing infaunal colonisation, were filled with defaunated sediment containing two treatments, with and without S. squamata. These cylinders were inserted into microcosms containing sediment with indigenous meiofauna collected from the field. The treatments were incubated in the laboratory at ambient temperature and salinity for 7, 14 and 21 days. The nematode assemblages in both treatments did not differ in composition between treatments and from the natural assemblages, suggesting that all the species were equally able to colonise the experimental cores. The presence of the polychaete did not affect the development of the nematode community composition, in contrast to the results from a previous temperate-beach experiment. However, our results did not indicate whether the difference in results was caused by the different behaviour of the polychaete specimens, or by the different composition and response of the present nematode community.

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