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.

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.

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 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.

Impacts of Flounder Trawls on the Intertidal Habitat and Community of the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy

1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 650-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Brylinsky ◽  
Jamie Gibson ◽  
Donald C. Gordon Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Benthic Diatoms ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Intertidal Habitat ◽  
Intertidal Sediments ◽  
Surficial Sediments ◽  
Biological Impacts

Four experimental trawls were made at highwater over the intertidal zone of the Minas Basin and the effects assessed when the tide was out to determine the physical and biological impacts of groundfish trawling on the benthos. The trawl doors made furrows 30–85 cm wide and up to 5 cm deep. The rollers compressed surficial sediments but did not scour a depression. The bridle caused no obvious disturbance. Door furrows and roller marks remained visible for 2–7 mo. No significant impacts were observed on either benthic diatoms or macrobenthos. The macrobenthos was dominated by polychaetes, some of which may have the ability to take evasive action as a trawl approaches. There were few molluscs, crustaceans, or echinoderms present; these taxa have been shown to be more susceptible to trawling damage in studies done elsewhere. Nematode numbers were initially depressed in the door furrows but did recover with time. It is not known whether nematodes were killed or displaced but the latter is thought more likely. Overall, the impacts in this particular environment are judged to be minor, especially since the intertidal sediments of the Minas Basin are already exposed to similar natural stresses imposed by storms and winter ice.

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.

The Recent Terebratulina Community in the rocky subtidal zone of the Bay of Fundy, Canada

Lethaia ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES P. A. NOBLE ◽  
ALAN LOGAN ◽  
G. ROBERT WEBB
Keyword(s):  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
Rocky Subtidal

scholarly journals 14C Dating of Modern Marine and Estuarine Shellfish

Radiocarbon ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 975-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Hogg ◽  
T. F. G. Higham ◽  
J. Dahm
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
14C Dating ◽  
Marine Molluscs ◽  
C Distribution ◽  
Rocky Coast

We measured the 14C content of 36 living marine molluscs from Tairua Harbour and the rocky coast on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand. We identified species suitable for radiocarbon dating and show that the open marine intertidal zone is enriched in 14C compared to the open marine subtidal zone or estuary. We also found a uniform 14C distribution in the Tairua Harbour, by analyzing samples of the estuarine bivalve Austrovenus stutchbwyi collected up to 5 km from the harbor entrance.

Halocladius variabilis(Diptera: Chironomidae): a marine insect symbiotic with seaweeds from the White Sea, Russia

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 1381-1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena R. Tarakhovskaya ◽  
David J. Garbary
Keyword(s):  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
White Sea ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Tidal Height ◽  
Subtidal Zone ◽  
The White Sea ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Primary Host ◽  
Mutualistic Symbiosis ◽  
First Time

The commensal (and possibly mutualistic) symbiosis between the marine chironomid,Halocladius variabilis, and brown algal epiphytes ofFucus vesiculosusandAscophyllum nodosumis described for the first time from Europe, based on field studies from the White Sea, Russia. While the primary host,Elachista fucicola, and the secondary host,A. nodosum, are the same as in eastern Canada where the symbiosis was first described, White Sea populations have a wider range of primary hosts that includePylaiella littoralisandDictyosiphon foeniculaceus. About 64% ofE. fucicolathalli onA. nodosumin the low intertidal zone were colonized. Significantly lower frequencies were found onE. fucicolawhen the latter was epiphytic onF. vesiculosusat the same tidal height or on either secondary host when they were in the subtidal zone. For a given tidal height, or secondary host, frequency ofH. variabiliswas reduced onP. littoralisand further reduced onD. foeniculaceus. We suggest that subtidal populations are colonized by dispersal of larvae from the intertidal zone on to suitable substrata, and that there is limited potential for these individuals to reach the intertidal zone as adults for reproduction.

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