Intertidal Feeding of Winter Flounders (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) in the Bay of Fundy

1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1374-1378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Wells ◽  
D. H. Steele ◽  
A. V. Tyler
Keyword(s):  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
Filamentous Algae ◽  
Pseudopleuronectes Americanus ◽  
Food Species ◽  
Feeding Grounds

Flounders captured in summer in the intertidal zone at high tide fed mainly on food species that live in that zone. Flounders captured in the subtidal zone fed partially on food species that live there, and partially on intertidal food species. From these feeding habits, and from the magnitude of the movement into the intertidal zone (previously reported), we conclude that large intertidal areas are major feeding grounds for winter flounder. The quantities of filamentous algae in the stomachs suggest that winter flounders can utilize plant material.

scholarly journals Seasonal occurrence of Japanese pygmy octopus Octopus parvus in the intertidal zone

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuta Yamate ◽  
Takumi Ohya ◽  
Toshifumi Wada ◽  
Takeshi Takegaki
Keyword(s):  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Gonadal Development ◽  
Hermit Crabs ◽  
Seasonal Occurrence ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
Intertidal Zones ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Similar Body ◽  
Traditional Fishing

AbstractThe Japanese pygmy octopus Octopus parvus is a small octopus that occurs commonly along the coast of southern Japan, and is caught using traditional fishing methods. To date, however, there have been no studies on the ecology of this species. In this study, we investigated the annual seasonal occurrence of O. parvus in the intertidal zone of Fukue Island, Nagasaki, Japan, and examined the growth, maturation, and feeding habits of this octopus. We accordingly found that the octopus inhabits the intertidal zone of the study site from August to January, during which time it appears to move from the high to low intertidal zone, and subsequently migrates to the subtidal zone. During low tide at night in the intertidal zone, we observed that the octopuses actively captured and fed on prey, such as fish, crabs, hermit crabs, shrimp, snails, and bivalves. Both males and females were found to be characterized by similar body sizes and growth, although gonadal development occurs relatively earlier in males. However, any mating or brooding behaviors were not observed during the course of the study. Our observations thus indicate that O. parvus uses intertidal zones as feeding grounds for rapid growth and maturation, and may thereafter move to the subtidal zone for spawning.

Behaviour and ecological importance of a mud snail (Ilyanassa obsoleta) population in a temperate macrotidal estuary

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 459-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Cranford
Keyword(s):  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Standing Stock ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
Ilyanassa Obsoleta ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Nutrient Regeneration ◽  
Southern Bight ◽  
Mud Flat ◽  
Ecological Importance

A population of Ilyanassa obsoleta was sampled during the 8-month period when they are present in the intertidal zone in the Southern Bight of Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy. Mud snails were first observed in April, and spawning took place in late May and early June. Flesh weight increased between May and November, with the highest growth rates recorded during August and September. During November the population returned to the subtidal zone, where energy reserves are partially utilized during winter. Clustering and differential habitat selection (salt marsh or mud flat) within size classes resulted in large spatial variations in density, standing stock, and production. Production by I. obsoleta averaged 1.1 g C∙m−2 during their stay in the intertidal zone. The supply of carbon from epibenthic microalgae is insufficient to meet the requirements of this population. Detritus derived from Spartina is believed to be an important additional source of carbon. Ilyanassa obsoleta is not a major prey item of any of the better known predators in this region. Their importance to the intertidal community results from the direct (predation) and indirect (competition, disturbance, nutrient regeneration, and bioturbation) influence of their presence on sedimentary microbial processes and the resident benthic flora and fauna.

Experiments On Embryo Survivorship, Habitat Selection, and Competitive Ability of a Stickleback Fish (Gasterosteus) Which Nests in the Rocky Intertidal Zone

Behaviour ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 132 (15-16) ◽  
pp. 1207-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Macdonald ◽  
J. Bekkers ◽  
S.M. Macisaac ◽  
D.M. Blouw
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Mate Selection ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Breeding Habitat ◽  
Rocky Intertidal ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
Filamentous Algae ◽  
Bare Rock ◽  
Rocky Intertidal Zone

AbstractLike other 'white' sticklebacks, those ncsting intertidally at Spry Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada, remove fertilized eggs from the nest, disperse them over the surrounding area, and provide no subsequent parental care. However the breeding substrate at Spry Bay is devoid of the filamentous algae which are the normal breeding substrate of the white stickleback and which elsewhere facilitate survival of abandoned embryos. Experiments show that embryos dispersed in the intertidal zone at Spry Bay survive surprisingly well despite the complete absence of parental care and the periodic absence of water. Intertidal embryos generally develop faster than embryos in the adjacent subtidal zone, but there are exceptions to this pattern. Intertidal males show site fidelity to their nests despite interrupted access to territory, and they show consistent preference for nesting in the intertidal zone in the field. In the laboratory, and in the absence of tidal flux and competition, males taken from the rocky intertidal zone generally prefer to breed on bare rock substrate even when filamentous algae are freely available. When white stickleback males from an adjacent population which breeds subtidally in filamentous algae are introduced into the experimental aquaria as competitors, they exclude the males that breed on bare rock. The surprisingly high survivorship of embryos in the rocky intertidal zone, the habitat selection of males for bare substrate, and their exclusion by males that breed subtidally on algae, all suggest that the highly unusual breeding behaviours of intertidal white males form an effective alternative breeding repertoire. Because breeding habitat selection has implications for mate selection, the possibility exists that sticklebacks with different breeding repertoires at Spry Bay may mate assortatively.

Feeding Habits and Feeding Grounds of the Northern Elephant Seal

1984 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Condit ◽  
B. J. Le Boeuf
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Elephant Seal ◽  
Northern Elephant Seal ◽  
Feeding Grounds

The Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) in Long Pond, Conception Bay, Newfoundland

1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1153-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Kennedy ◽  
D. H. Steele
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Early Growth ◽  
Winter Flounder ◽  
Pseudopleuronectes Americanus ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Fish Remains ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Conception Bay

Monthly samples of winter flounder taken in Long Pond from November 1962 to October 1963 indicated that the flounder moved into deeper water (7–10 m) during the summer and returned to shallow water (1–2 m) from September to June. These movements corresponded to the end of the spawning season and the ripening of the gonads respectively. Spawning occurred from March until early June, most of it in May and early June. Most males were mature at age 6 and most females at age 7. Fifty percent of the males and females were mature at 21 and 25 cm respectively. The growth rates of the males and females were similar until the age of 8, after which the females apparently outgrew the males. Early growth and fecundity were similar to those reported for other areas. No feeding took place in December or January but the flounder fed in March and continued to feed throughout the summer; food intake decreased in the fall. They were omnivorous and the type of food eaten varied with the locality. Polychaetes, plant material, and molluscs were the most common food items throughout the year. Capelin eggs and fish remains were found only during a few months of the year but were eaten in great quantities.

scholarly journals Intertidal habitat use of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Bahía San Antonio, Argentina

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1109-1118
Author(s):  
Els Vermeulen
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Tursiops Truncatus ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Shallow Waters ◽  
Encounter Rate ◽  
Western Atlantic

Very little information is available on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) habitat use in the South-western Atlantic. It is, however, essential in understanding their ecology and to improve conservation management. In this study, habitat use of bottlenose dolphins was examined in Bahía San Antonio, an area frequented by the species. Given the large tidal amplitude and extended intertidal zone in this bay, special focus was given to the intertidal vs subtidal habitat use patterns. Bottlenose dolphins were observed in only half of the surveyed area, with on average 1 dolphin group encountered per 100 km surveyed. All dolphin groups were seen in shallow waters <10 m deep. GLM analyses showed that especially during high tide, depth had an important effect on the dolphin encounter rate, with most dolphin groups encountered in the intertidal zone. While in the intertidal zone, most dolphin groups were observed to be engaged in surface feeding activities. The presented data indicate dolphins remained in shallow waters, and moved to the intertidal zone during high tide where they appear to find feeding opportunities. This information is believed to be of high value in understanding this population's ecological needs, and essential when aiming to improve marine conservation efforts at times of increased anthropogenic pressures in the area.

scholarly journals Preliminary Study on Fish Larvae at Selected Coastal Waters of Sarawak

1970 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Norhakimi Muhamad ◽  
Siti Akmar Khadijah Ab Rahim
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Larval Dispersal ◽  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Mesh Size ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Study Sites

A survey were carried out from April to November 2012 at five study sites namely Teluk Pandan beach, Rambungan beach, Puteri beach, Sampadi Island and Satang Besar Island, Sarawak. This survey was carried out in order to obtain early documentation of fish larvae at selected coastal waters of Sarawak. Seine net (1 mm mesh size) which was pulled by two persons at intertidal zone; and bridle net (0.5 mm mesh size) that was towed by boat at subtidal zone (Sampadi Island only) were used to collect the samples. A total of 2,562 fish larvae which comprise 25 families were obtained from both sampling methods. A total of 16 families of fish larvae were caught by seine net from the intertidal zone. The same number of families was collected at the subtidal zone of Sampadi Island by bridle net. Ambassidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae and Gerreidae found to be dominant families in the study sites. Clupeidae and Gerreidae shown a wide larval dispersal area because they were collected at all study sites. These findings seem to indicate that the subtidal zone of Sampadi support more species of fish larvae.

scholarly journals Cross-Shore Suspended Sediment Transport in Relation to Topographic Changes in the Intertidal Zone of a Macro-Tidal Beach (Mariakerke, Belgium)

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelien Brand ◽  
Lars De Sloover ◽  
Alain De Wulf ◽  
Anne-Lise Montreuil ◽  
Sander Vos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Transport ◽  
Suspended Sediment ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Quantitative Agreement ◽  
Suspended Sediment Transport ◽  
Transport Direction ◽  
Erosion And Accretion

Sediment transport is a key element in intertidal beach morphodynamics, but measurements of sediment transport are often unreliable. The aim of this study is to quantify and investigate cross-shore sediment transport and the resulting topographic changes for a tide-dominated, sandy beach. Two fortnight-long field experiments were carried out during which hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics were measured with optical and acoustic sensors, while the beach topography was surveyed with a permanent terrestrial laser scanner. Suspended sediment was generally well-mixed and currents were largest at approximately 1.5 m above the bed, which resulted in a peak in sediment transport at 1/3 of the high tide level. The mean transport direction was onshore during calm conditions (wave height <0.6 m) thanks to tidal currents and offshore during energetic conditions due to undertow. Oscillatory transport was always onshore because of wave asymmetry but it was subordinate to mean transport. The intertidal zone showed an alternation of erosion and accretion with formation of morphological features during energetic (no storm) conditionsand smoothening of the morphology during calm conditions. A good qualitative and quantitative agreement was found between the daily cross-shore suspended load and beach volume changes, especially during calm conditions.

Spatial distribution of the intertidal snail Ilyanassa obsoleta in relation to parasitism by two species of trematodes

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 1137-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean G McCurdy ◽  
J Sherman Boates ◽  
Mark R Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Spatial Distributions ◽  
Ilyanassa Obsoleta ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Corophium Volutator ◽  
Vertical Distributions ◽  
Second Intermediate Host ◽  
Intertidal Snail

We studied the spatial distributions of mud snails (Ilyanassa obsoleta) infected by two trematodes, Lepocreadium setiferoides and Gynaecotyla adunca, on a macrotidal mudflat in the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy. Snails, as first intermediate hosts, were castrated by both parasites, and we found no evidence of sex differences in parasitism. Similar to previous work, prevalence of L. setiferoides in I. obsoleta increased exponentially with host size (and age). Unexpectedly, prevalence of G. adunca decreased over the largest size classes of snails, a result that may be due to several causes. Distributions of both parasites across the intertidal zone differed from previous accounts in that snails infected with L. setiferoides were found only in the middle of the intertidal zone, whereas prevalence of G. adunca increased exponentially moving seaward. Several species of polychaetes could be infected by L. setiferoides in the laboratory and may act as appropriate second intermediate hosts, whereas only the amphipod Corophium volutator served as a second intermediate host for G. adunca. Finally, the vertical distributions of I. obsoleta infected by either species of trematode overlap with distributions of apparent or known second intermediate hosts.

High Tide Movements and Homing Behaviour of the Tidepool Sculpin Oligocottus maculosus

1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Green
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Homing Behavior ◽  
Homing Behaviour ◽  
Oligocottus Maculosus

Tagging studies show that the tidepool sculpin Oligocottus maculosus Girard shows fidelity to specific tide pools and will return to their pools when displaced. The results indicate that the navigational ability of O. maculosus is not solely dependent upon familiarity with geographical features of the intertidal zone. It is suggested that homing behavior functions as a mechanism stabilizing the spatial distribution of this species.

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